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Crane deaths building site closed Man crushed under crane is named
(about 1 hour later)
Construction workers have gathered to pay their respects at the site of a fatal crane crash in south-west London. A man crushed to death when he was hit by a crane as he washed his car has been named as Michael Alexa.
Two men died on Tuesday afternoon when a 165ft (50m) crane collapsed at a building site in Battersea onto a block of flats. The 23-year-old bus driver was one of two people killed when a 165ft (50m) machine collapsed onto a block of flats in Battersea, south-west London.
The 37-year-old crane driver died along with a 23-year-old who was crushed as he washed his car. A third man is said to be in hospital with minor injuries. The 37-year-old crane driver also died when he was thrown from the cab of the machine in the accident on Tuesday evening.
The site has been closed and the Health and Safety Executive is investigating.The site has been closed and the Health and Safety Executive is investigating.
The site was cordoned off by police overnight and a bouquet of flowers was attached to the fence. Workers from construction company Barrett gathered to pay their respects at the site of collapse near Battersea Power station.
The crane collapsed on a development. Picture Pablo Behrens Mr Alexa was a well-liked employee Colin Farrant
Workers from construction company Barrett gathered across the road from the site on Wednesday morning. Colin Farrant, commercial manager of his Mr Alexa's employer, London General, said he was a father-of-one who lived with his partner.
The flats were evacuated after the crane collapsed and police said no-one inside was hurt. It has been reported the crane operator was thrown out of the cab. He said: "All staff and colleagues are greatly shocked by this tragic accident. Mr Alexa was a well-liked employee."
Workers in nearby buildings were told the road leading to the site would be closed again later on Wednesday to allow two other cranes to remove the wreckage. Witnesses said Mr Alexa was crushed when the jib of the crane became detached from the mast and crashed to the ground, also hitting a two-storey block of flats.
Residents, who live next to the site, described the collapse as like a bomb going off. Neighbours said members of his family live on the nearby Savona Estate, opposite where the tragedy took place.
'Massive bang' The crane had smashed through him and through the concrete ground Eyewitness Leon Gooding
Police, ambulance staff and firefighters were called shortly before 1800 BST on Tuesday to the site in Battersea Park. Police said the body of the 23-year-old had still not been recovered as officers were waiting for two more cranes to remove the wreckage.
Local resident Ron Brown said: "I just heard a massive bang and I thought a bomb had gone off. Then I saw loads of dust go up. Leon Gooding, who was inside the block of flats hit by the crane, said he heard the high-pitched sound of breaking metal before seeing it come crashing down.
"I saw the front end of the crane had hit a block of flats and before I knew it the emergency services were crawling all over the place. He said: "The whole structure was bent. I looked down into the car park and I could see a man lying on a car, he looked like he was sitting in the windscreen.
Witness Joanna Herrera, said: "I was sitting at home when there was a huge bang. I went outside. There was a guy on top of a crane and a guy washing his car. All you could see was his leg underneath." "The crane had smashed through him and through the concrete ground."
When I went past the building that was damaged all the windows were blown out Eyewitness Ron Brown Unusual incident
Tony Ddumba, 16, said he was talking to the man who died just moments before he was crushed by the crane. A police spokesman said 25 flats and maisonettes on the Patmore Estate were evacuated but no-one inside had been hurt.
"I saw the stones falling first and as they fell down, I saw the crane wobbling and I thought something was going on," he said. Residents, who live next to the site, described the collapse as similar to a bomb going off.
A number of residents said they had complained to the council earlier on Tuesday about the proximity of the crane to their homes, although Wandsworth Council could not confirm this.A number of residents said they had complained to the council earlier on Tuesday about the proximity of the crane to their homes, although Wandsworth Council could not confirm this.
'Unusual incident' Martin Linton, Labour MP for Battersea, said: "This tragic incident happened when the jib of the crane broke off the mast. It's a very unusual incident."
A police spokesman said 25 flats and maisonettes on the Patmore Estate were evacuated. The crane collapsed on a development. Picture Pablo Behrens
Martin Linton, Labour MP for Battersea, said: "This tragic incident happened when the jib of the crane broke off the mast. The MP said residents had been moved from the block of flats to a hotel in Brent Cross, north London.
"It's a very unusual incident. The jib fell on to a local resident who was standing in the courtyard of the flats. The driver was thrown out of the crane, as I understand it."
The crane driver was employed by Falcon Crane Hire, in Thetford, Norfolk.
Mr Linton said residents had been moved from the block of flats to a hotel in Brent Cross, north London.
He said he hoped they would be moved to hotels closer to Battersea and allowed back to collect their possessions.He said he hoped they would be moved to hotels closer to Battersea and allowed back to collect their possessions.
Det Supt Guy Ferguson, of Wandsworth police, said a joint investigation into the accident was under way. Det Supt Guy Ferguson said a joint investigation into the accident was under way.
"The sequence of events is yet to be established, and that will be done by ourselves, the Met Police and the Health and Safety Executive, who have been contacted." In a statement, Barrett said it was co-operating with the investigating authorities.
In a statement, Barrett said it was co-operating with the investigation authorities. "Our own health and safety team and a senior management team are present on site," it said, adding that the company would be carrying out its own investigation.
"Our own health and safety team and a senior management team are present on site," he said. "We will also be carrying out our own investigation."