Man dies after crane collapses at Glasgow construction site

A CONSTRUCTION worker was killed yesterday and another left seriously injured after a crane there were using in Glasgow city centre apparentl collapsed.

The man was pronounced dead at the scene in the Cowcaddens area after reportedly falling from the crane when it developed a fault. Another man, who was also working on Buchanan House in Port Dundas Road, was taken to the city’s Royal Infirmary after sustaining a serious head injury in the incident.

It is believed that the accident occurred after the truck-mounted lift being used for work on the exterior of the commercial building broke down. According to reports, the yellow cherry picker-style crane effectively snapped while in operation.

The tragedy occurred shortly before 12:30pm. Dozens of police and fire rescue staff remained outside the office block late yesterday afternoon, carrying out investigations into the incident. The two men had not named last night.

One devastated colleague – thought to be part of a team of contracted workers employed by a Glasgow-based firm – emerged from the site in tears and had to be escorted away from the building. Another man, clearly emotional, stood outside but was too upset to comment.

The men were carrying out the latest phase of refurbishment work to the ten-storey Buchanan House, which is based on the site of the former Buchanan Street railway station and counts Network Rail and Transport Scotland among its tenants.

In the aftermath of the incident, Strathclyde Police evacuated most of the staff from the building as a precautionary measure.

According to witnesses, at least one of the men involved became trapped following the collapse of the crane.

One member of staff at sandwich shop, La Sandwicherie, adjacent to Buchanan House on Port Dundas Road, said: “People have been in talking about it and the guy fell from a cherry picker. It just snapped and he hit some scaffolding as he fell down, too.

“It happened about 12:30pm which is right in the middle of the lunchtime rush.

“We saw loads of emergency services – police, ambulances and the fire brigade – rushing into Buchanan House with their sirens on for ages.”

Malcolm Kane, a logistics worker who was using the nearby Cowcaddens Post Office, said: “It sounds like there was a problem with the crane.”

Brett Morris, the owner of La Sandwicherie, added: “This guy was in a cherry picker so he must have been outside the building working.”

A spokeswoman for Strathclyde Police said: “We can confirm that there has been one fatality and one person seriously injured. The injured man has been taken to Glasgow Royal Infirmary.”