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Labourer rescued by firefighters after fall on building site in Cavendish Street in Ramsgate

13:38, 10 September 2020

updated: 11:28, 11 September 2020

A labourer had to be rescued by firefighters after an incident on a building site where another worker was injured last month.

The accident happened yesterday at Cavendish Street, Ramsgate, where Vidi Construction is building 87 luxury flats at the old courthouse.

The site in Cavendish Street and Effingham Street in Ramsgate
The site in Cavendish Street and Effingham Street in Ramsgate

A man working there reportedly fell while reaching for some insulation, landing on his back at about 3pm.

Police and paramedics were called and fire crews helped to get him to safety.

A Kent Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said: "One male working at the location suffered a fall from height and was rescued by our crews using an access platform, stretcher and rope rescue techniques."

Andrei Matoschi, health and safety spokesman for Vidi, says the worker fell from about two metres and he was kept still on the floor while they waited for the ambulance to arrive.

"The fire crew had to help get him out because with back injuries you don't want to move the injured person too much," he said.

"We take what happened very seriously.

"We're a big company, we've been around for a while and safety is a priority.

"This is not a dangerous site, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has not closed us down and we have appointed a health and safety inspector to come in every fortnight to make sure we're safe."

The site in Cavendish Street and Effingham Street in Ramsgate
The site in Cavendish Street and Effingham Street in Ramsgate

Last month a worker suffered an electric shock while working there and he was taken to the QEQM hospital to be treated.

Mr Matoschi said: "It wasn't a serious incident, just like this latest one wasn't.

"The worker was moving some scaffolding poles next to a live cable and it sparked.

"It was more of a scare and he was discharged that same day from hospital.

"There was a report that the site went into darkness, but that was because the power was switched off while everything was checked.

"He is back at work and the person injured two days ago is coming back Monday."

A spokesman for South East Coast Ambulance Service confirmed there had been an incident.

"Ambulance crews including our Hazardous Area Response Team attended and one patient was assessed and treated at the scene before being taken to William Harvey Hospital with injuries including back pain," he said.

A HSE spokesman said: “We are aware of the incident and are making initial enquiries."

"The investigation into the incident in August is ongoing."

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