Boston firefighters worked for more than three hours Wednesday to rescue a worker who was injured following part of a historic power plant collapsed during renovations.
City Fire Department Commissioner Jack Dempsey told reporters the worker suffered life-threatening injuries following a wall collapsed and he fell on his legs and lower body.
Two other workers were quickly removed from the former Edison power plant in south Boston and taken to an area hospital with minor injuries, Dempsey added. The collapse occurred around 1:45 p.m.
This is the second collapse to occur at a Boston construction site so far this year. Last March, a worker died following part of a parking lot that was being demolished collapsed.
Mayor Michelle Wu thanked emergency personnel for carrying out “a very dangerous rescue operation,” saying it was “almost a miracle” that the worker was saved.
“For my part, I am upset that we are here once more, on another construction site with another incident of this magnitude,” she told WCVB television.
The plant, which is more than 120 years old, is being converted into a mixed-use property that includes residential, office, research and retail spaces, as well as a hotel and public open spaces, according to the Planning and Development Agency. from Boston.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is also investigating the incident, a spokesman said.
Suffolk Construction, the company responsible for the renovation, said scaffolding on the building had collapsed. “We are currently on site working closely with OSHA, our subcontractor and local authorities to determine the cause of this incident and confirm the safety of the site,” the company said in a statement.
Hilco Redevelopment Partners, which is developing the site, thanked the rescuers for their quick action.
