Three dockers were treated for non-life-threatening injuries which they sustained after they fell 20ft from a crane into a ship’s hold at Lisahally port on the outskirts of Derry yesterday morning. The dockers fell on to grain bags when the crane they were on toppled.
An investigation into the incident is to be carried out by the Health and Safety Executive in conjunction with the Londonderry Port and Harbour Commissioners.
Sammy Nicholl, station officer for the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service, said the three dockers were being lowered into the hold when they fell off the cradle.
“One was treated for back and chest pains, one for back pain and one for a rib injury.They were all conscious and alert during the operation to remove them from the ship’s hold.
“They were very lucky that they fell on to bags of grain rather than on to a solid surface otherwise this incident could have resulted in tragedies. Naturally they were confused after the incident because they didn’t realise what had happened to them but they realise they were very lucky”, he said.
Meanwhile, Tommy Barr from the Northern Ireland Fire And Rescue Service said crew members of five appliances sent to the port successfully evacuated the casualties from the ship.
“We put all our safety procedures in terms of evacuating the casualties and in terms of safety to our own personnel into operation”, he said.
A spokesman for the port authorities said the incident at the port terminal would be fully investigated.
“Three contractors fell into the hold of the ship during the lifting operation. We will be carrying out a full investigation into what has taken place together with the Health and Safety Executive”, the spokesman said.