Atchinson Street, Wollongong: Tradie falls three metres through scaffolding

A tradesman has been taken to hospital in a stable condition after falling through scaffolding while working on a luxury apartment complex.

Paramedics at the construction site on Tuesday, January 5. Picture: Madeline Crittenden

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An Illawarra tradie has escaped serious injury after following through scaffolding at a Wollongong construction site on Tuesday morning.

Paramedics were called to the Aire Wollongong construction site on Atchison Street around 10.30am, following reports a man had fallen three metres.

On arrival at the soon-to-be luxury apartment complex, it was discovered the 28-year-old tradie had landed on a concrete surface on the 10th floor.

The injured man was transported to Wollongong Hospital in a stable condition. Picture: Madeline Crittenden

NSW Ambulance inspector Kelvin Milne said paramedics from the special operations team were taken to the patient, who had fallen through some scaffolding.

“He was put onto a stokes ladder and he was lifted off the building site via a crane with the assistance of construction workers,” he said.

“He was taken to Wollongong Hospital in a stable condition and was subsequently treated for spinal injuries due to the mechanism of the fall.”

Inspector Milne said it was a difficult operation to rescue the tradie, and that injuries could have been a lot worse.

The incident occurred at the Aire Wollongong construction site.

“It was quite difficult, but using the on-scene resources of the construction site we were able to lift him off safely,” he said.

“Anyone that falls three metres, there’s possibility of further injuries, neck, head injuries but in this case the patient was quite lucky.”

Police also attended the scene, with SafeWork set to launch an investigation into the incident.