Crane topples into apartment block

Jul 6 2009

A falling building crane has ripped through a multi-storey apartment block in Liverpool.

Emergency crews are at Chandlers Wharf, Tabley Street, amid reports that the driver was thrown out on top of the building and residents were trapped inside.

Anthony Turner, 22, who lives next door to the apartment block said: "I heard a massive crash - I thought it was a plane going down. I ran out onto my balcony and could see debris flying everywhere and could hear people screaming."

Sarah Banfield, who was rescued from the building, said: "My boyfriend Andrew and I were sitting in our bedroom when we heard an almighty bang. The whole building shuddered. It felt like it was literally shaking. We grabbed hold of each other because it seemed to go on for ages, we thought it was an earthquake.

"We tried to get out so opened our front door and there was dust everywhere. We went through the emergency exit but it was full of falling debris. I stepped across a hole in the floor which had bits of metal sticking out of it, I don't know how I did it.

"We got across and started running downstairs but there was no way out on the ground floor because the door was blocked. We ran back upstairs to the second floor where a builder helped get us out."