Harrowing Rescue From Sunny Isles Construction Site

SUNNY ISLES, FL — A construction worker was injured on Tuesday when he tripped on the sixth floor of a construction site and couldn't get back down. First responders used a crane to lower the man to safety in what appeared to be a harrowing maneuver as the man's coworkers looked on. The incident occurred shortly after 9 a.m.

"A crane on site was used to lower the patient down because there is not a finished stairwell to the floor he was on," Lt. Kirsten Miller of Miami-Dade Fire Rescue told Patch on Tuesday. "The crane was operated by the crane operator at the construction site with a fire officer in the crane to be able to communicate with the rescue crew." (Sign up for our free Daily Newsletters and Breaking News Alerts for the Aventura Patch.)

Miller said that the construction worker was transported by ambulance to the closest hospital which is Aventura Hospital and Medical Center. Local 10 News reported that the beachfront construction site was part of the Ritz-Carlton Residences on Collins Avenue.

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"The patient was in good condition throughout the incident," she said.

She added that first responders had no choice but to improvise in this case. The victim could be seen dangling high above the ground as he was slowly lowered in a rescue basket.

"It is unusual to use any equipment that is not MDFR equipment," Miller added. "However, in certain situations like this one, we must improvise and use the tools we have. Today it was a crane and the operator."

Photo courtesy Miami-Dade Fire Rescue