Firemen rescue builder after head first fall

A 31-year-old construction worker was seriously injured yesterday morning when he fell from the third floor of the building on which he was working in Cala Rajada. Juan Jiminez Cabrera was working from a scaffolding platform and fell as he tried to cross from one section to another across a wooden plank. The wood gave way and the builder fell head first, fortunately his fall was broken by the floor below, reducing the fall to just a few metres. But the construction worker suffered serious injury and was unable to move. His colleagues immediately contacted the emergency services. The rescue operation was a complicated one with the paralysed builder trapped on the second floor. Firemen were brought in to assist paramedics and a team of firemen could only reach the injured man by using one of the fire cranes. Cabrera was finally lowered down the ladder to a stretcher with firemen taking great care not to aggravate any of the injuries. Paramedics at the scene diagnosed back and head injuries and possible injuries to one of the builder's legs. Juan Jiminez Cabrera was rushed to a Palma clinic where he was undergoing treatment last night. The Local Police and the Guardia Civil have launched an investigation and the Balearic government, especially the Minister for Labour will be following the case carefully. The department is fighting a continual battle to reduce accidents at work and ensure that all the maximum safety regulations are complied with.