According to an AAP report on 10 March 2009, a harness saved one worker when a gantry collapsed. Several videos of the incident’s aftermath are available.
The media report said
“An elderly man plunged 40m headfirst to his death while his traumatised workmate was left dangling from a safety harness after a work platform suspended from the rear of a Sydney building collapsed.
The two subcontractors involved in the plunge had been hired to do maintenance work at the Maroubra Seals Sports and Community Club and were standing on a gantry at the Marine Parade building when one side gave way just before 2pm (AEDT) today.
Nearby construction workers heard a crash and rushed to help, but were too late to save the 70-year-old local man who fell to the ground. He was reportedly not wearing a harness.”
In one of the videos, one of the rescuers says that there is only around 20 minutes available for a dangling man in a harness before circulation stops. Can anyone confirm this timeframe?