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AN elderly couple has had a lucky escape after a drilling rig toppled over and crushed parts of their home in Melbourne’s northwest.
The rig was being used at a building site in Strathmore this afternoon when it fell onto a neighbouring home.
The two residents have walked from the Woodland St home unharmed, while the machine operator also escaped without injury.
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The arm of the rig smashed into the roof shortly after 3pm, sending tiles flying.
Electricity and gas services were switched off while firefighters badessed the scene.
Woodland St resident Elizabeth Crowe said she felt “sickened” when the rig fell on to her next door neighbour’s house.
“The elderly couple were sitting in the sun room when it came down. I really did fear the worst,” she told the Herald Sun.
“I screamed. I let out a blood curdling scream. It was horrendous.
“I ran in there and they (the couple) were in stunned disbelief.
“It is as bad as it could possibly be. They are elderly and frail. It could have been a double fatality.
“It is a total disaster.”
Ms Crowe said there have been issues from the beginning of the development and she and other neighbours had been concerned with the build.
“It has been shonky,” she said.
“As recently as yesterday I have been in touch with the council … an inspector came out yesterday.
“We have been concerned.”
Moonee Valley City Council have been contacted for comment and WorkSafe have confirmed they are investigating.
They are considering bringing in a crane to lift the machine which remains impeded in the roof.
Today’s frightening near-miss comes after a number of recent tragedies involving cranes.
Shaun Burns, 48, was killed in September when a kibble carrying more than a tonne of concrete fell from a crane at Box Hill.
His co-worker, a 28-year old Caroline Springs man, was also injured.
A crane operator was rushed to hospital with potential spinal injuries on October 13 after he slipped on a ladder 20m above the ground.
The September death led to Worksafe halting work on more than 60 cranes across Melbourne amid a safety probe.
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