TEESSIDE SCAFFOLDER
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Workmen saved from death after scaffolding collapses
DEMOLITION workers cheated death after scaffolding around 18 boarded-up houses collapsed on to a street – just as the men were tucking into their breakfast.
Police closed off Wellington Road, in Hanley, after scaffolding and plastic sheeting crashed to the ground in strong winds.
Two parked cars were damaged by the falling scaffolding at 10.25am on Saturday.
The near-miss happened just as contractors working for Potteries Demolition Services started knocking down the condemned terraces on one side of the road.
Now the Health and Safety Executive is investigating how the incident happened.
One theory is that winds gusting at up to 50mph pulled on the plastic sheeting which had been put up to stop dust falling on to people's properties.
The workmen admitted they were lucky to be alive.
Richard Marson, aged 26, of Abbey Hulton, said: "We were five minutes' late going back out after our breakfast and if we had been on time we could have been killed.
"My sausage and egg butty saved my life."
Daniel Simpson, aged 19, of Norton Green, added: "We were working on the scaffolding just before it collapsed.
"Then we were in the cabin having breakfast and just heard it come crashing down."
Chris Morrall, aged 19, of Abbey Hulton, said: "If this had happened any earlier or later, I would've been dead."
Paramedics were called to Wellington Road, although no-one was injured.
A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said: "The workmen had a very lucky escape given the size of the scaffolding."
Residents on the opposite side of Wellington Road described hearing an 'almighty bang' as the scaffolding crashed to the ground.
Dave Mellor, aged 56, of Birches Head, who was visiting his nephew, Matthew Howell, in Wellington Road, said: "It's a good job there was no-one in the street. It would've been a bloodbath."
Annette Goodwin, aged 45, of Wellington Road, said: "It is so lucky that no-one was hurt because this is normally a very busy street. Lots of people walk to the shops.
"I dread to think what would have happened if someone had been walking past along the street."
Dangerous structure officers from Stoke-on-Trent City Council went out to Wellington Road.
A council spokesman said: "Our investigation will look into the causes of the accident. We are grateful that no-one was hit by the scaffolding and no-one was injured.
"You cannot legislate for freak weather. We are satisfied that people acted swiftly and we will monitor the situation."
The site manager declined to speak to The Sentinel on Saturday.
DEMOLITION workers cheated death after scaffolding around 18 boarded-up houses collapsed on to a street – just as the men were tucking into their breakfast.
Police closed off Wellington Road, in Hanley, after scaffolding and plastic sheeting crashed to the ground in strong winds.
Two parked cars were damaged by the falling scaffolding at 10.25am on Saturday.
The near-miss happened just as contractors working for Potteries Demolition Services started knocking down the condemned terraces on one side of the road.
Now the Health and Safety Executive is investigating how the incident happened.
One theory is that winds gusting at up to 50mph pulled on the plastic sheeting which had been put up to stop dust falling on to people's properties.
The workmen admitted they were lucky to be alive.
Richard Marson, aged 26, of Abbey Hulton, said: "We were five minutes' late going back out after our breakfast and if we had been on time we could have been killed.
"My sausage and egg butty saved my life."
Daniel Simpson, aged 19, of Norton Green, added: "We were working on the scaffolding just before it collapsed.
"Then we were in the cabin having breakfast and just heard it come crashing down."
Chris Morrall, aged 19, of Abbey Hulton, said: "If this had happened any earlier or later, I would've been dead."
Paramedics were called to Wellington Road, although no-one was injured.
A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said: "The workmen had a very lucky escape given the size of the scaffolding."
Residents on the opposite side of Wellington Road described hearing an 'almighty bang' as the scaffolding crashed to the ground.
Dave Mellor, aged 56, of Birches Head, who was visiting his nephew, Matthew Howell, in Wellington Road, said: "It's a good job there was no-one in the street. It would've been a bloodbath."
Annette Goodwin, aged 45, of Wellington Road, said: "It is so lucky that no-one was hurt because this is normally a very busy street. Lots of people walk to the shops.
"I dread to think what would have happened if someone had been walking past along the street."
Dangerous structure officers from Stoke-on-Trent City Council went out to Wellington Road.
A council spokesman said: "Our investigation will look into the causes of the accident. We are grateful that no-one was hit by the scaffolding and no-one was injured.
"You cannot legislate for freak weather. We are satisfied that people acted swiftly and we will monitor the situation."
The site manager declined to speak to The Sentinel on Saturday.