KUCHING: A piling machine operator narrowly escaped serious injury in Kampung Pinang Jawa, sustaining hip and leg injuries in a harrowing accident on Monday (April 29).
The accident happened around 2.30pm when the machine toppled to the left, trapping the 33-year-old operator inside the cockpit.
Firefighters from the Petra Jaya station rushed to the scene, about 6km away, after receiving a distress call.
Upon arrival, they found that the piling machine had fallen within the compound of Masjid Attaqa Kampung Pinang Jawa and that the operator’s legs were pinned.
Rescue efforts were conducted, involving the use of specialised tools to cut through metal obstructing the operator’s freedom.
An excavator was also employed to lift the toppled machine to the side to allow extrication efforts.
Following a tense an hour and a half operation, the operator was successfully extricated from the cockpit at 4.06pm. He was then handed over to paramedics to be transported to the hospital for further medical treatment.
Once the situation was deemed safe, the team concluded their operation at 4.10pm.
