26.08.2013

Tower crane prankster slipped

An inquest in Sydney has heard that the man who fell from a tower crane in Manly last January was seriously drunk and was one of five party goers that climbed the crane in the early hours of the morning as a stunt.

Joyce, 29, fell 26 metres to his death after he slipped as he climbed from the jib to the operators cab, he died at the scene. The group had been drinking and taking other substances at an Australia Day party, held next door to the construction site. A number of party goers had apparently climbed the crane during the day.

Joyce was a construction worker with formal training and would normally have understood the risks he was exposing himself to. His family requested the inquest to examine how it was possible for the party-goers to gain access to the site and the crane. While the crane may not have been secured as well as it might, it did apparently comply with all current standards in terms of fencing and security.

The inquest continues
Click here to see original accident report
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The tower crane after the tragic scene