Two injured after Marsden Park building collapse

SafeWork is investigating how tonnes of bricks fell from scaffolding on a building site in Marsden Park, injuring two men in their 50s.

The construction company at the centre of a shambolic building collapse in western Sydney was reprimanded by authorities only two months ago.

Two men aged in their 50s were rushed to Westmead Hospital after tonnes of bricks stacked on pallets fell from scaffolding in Marsden Park Saturday morning.

One man was treated for minor injuries while the second was treated for shoulder injuries and multiple fractures.

Firefighters worked to free a man who was trapped under rubble after a building collapsed. Picture: Fire and Rescue NSW

A SafeWork inspector speaks to a builder outside the construction site. Picture: Tim Hunter

Fire and Rescue NSW crews attended the Gecko St address and worked to free one of the men who was trapped for more than 20 minutes at about 9.10am.

“It was an overload of the bricks, the bricklayers maybe didn’t know so they just overloaded the bricks in one spot which shouldn’t be (the case),” site supervisor Samy Wassely said, adding that those injured were subcontractors.

“It just happens. I was shocked; I didn’t believe it. It has never happened, I’ve been in the industry for 15 years.”

Two men were injured after a building collapsed in Marsden Park on Saturday morning. Picture: Fire and Rescue NSW

SafeWork NSW inspectors were onsite today investigating the cause of the incident, which NSW Ambulance crews said could have easily been fatal.

“The two patients were very lucky not to have sustained life-threatening injuries,” a NSW Ambulance spokesman said.

“It’s a reminder that circumstances can change quickly and remaining safe is paramount,” he said.

Two men were injured in the building collapse. Picture: Tim Hunter

In January 2021 Lavish Construction and Development received a $500 fine for “contravening a condition of the authority”, according to NSW Fair Trading’s public building register.

Mr Wassely, 37, was a director of Urban Homes (NSW) Pty Ltd until February this year.

The Egyptian-born builder was also a director of Lavish Construction and Development until January 2020.

Mr Wassely denied any knowledge of the disciplinary action and said “of course” when asked if all safety procedures were followed.

One man was taken to hospital after the building collapse. Picture: Tim Hunter

A SafeWork inspector speaks to a builder outside the construction site. Picture: Tim Hunter

Residents said the collapse sounded like “demolition works” and added that the home “has been built very quickly”.

They said workers have been on site seven days a week.

“We are going to get engineering, we will find out exactly (what happened),” Mr Wassely said.

Mr Wassely said he will ensure that there is no cost to the owner, who declined to comment when contacted.

Marsden Park is the fastest growing suburb in NSW, with 8856 residents added in the 2019-20 financial year, representing a28 per cent increase.