Southend: Men Rescued After Stuck 50 Feet Up

3 July 2012, 09:23 | Updated: 3 July 2012, 09:27

Three workmen in Southend had to be rescued by firefighters after they became trapped 50 feet up in a crane cage.

They were putting up posters at the University of Essex campus last night (Monday July 2nd) when the machine suffered a mechanical defect and stopped working.

Crews positioned an aerial ladder platform alongside the cage and brought down two of the men and the crane restarted allowing the other one to come down safely.

The men were cold and wet but unhurt.

Assistant Divisional Officer Martyn Hodder said: "It was raining heavily and the men had been stuck for approximately one and a half hours before they had to call the fire service for assistance.

"Crews positioned our own Bronto hydraulic platform in front of the works vehicle and were soon alongside the stranded cage. In failing light and poor weather conditions, two of the men were carefully assisted across into the safety of the Bronto cage.

"In rescuing them, it greatly reduced the weight in the Hiab cage which then re-started, allowing the remaining workman to operate it and lower himself to the ground under his own steam where he was reunited with his colleagues and fire crews."