Incredible escape as crane topples, missing house by metres
There was drama in south-west Sydney on Monday when a crane toppled over, bringing down power lines and missing a house by just metres.
The crane was lifting a fibreglass pool when it came crashing down, trapping the driver.
The crane came down between a home and a garage with 50-year-old driver Mark Cullen stuck in the cabin, left sweltering 10 metres above the ground.
When the rig toppled it brought down power lines and was surrounded by live wires. Power had to be cut before rescue crews could get to Mr Cullen.
“He was exhausted, he was very hot – the cabin was very hot,” NSW Ambulance’s Michael Corlis said.
It took two hours to extricate the crane driver, who was left with a sore leg, sore elbow, and some back pain.
Inside the home that was just metres from being crushed was an elderly lady who escaped uninjured.
Her landlord was also breathing a sigh of relief – his 1965 Mustang was in the garage.
“There’s a little fence damage, but it’s no big deal,” landlord Danny Magolveras said.
A SafeWork investigation is now underway into the incident.
