First responders unable to reach injured crane driver in time

Emergency crews were unable to reach a crane driver in time after his vehicle tumbled off an embankment, trapping him inside.

A man has died after his crane rolled off a rural Gold Coast road and into a creek after first responders were unable to reach him in time.

The 69-year-old was operating the vehicle on Thursday morning at a residential property in Vita Bella Court, Currumbin Valley before it rolled off a steep embankment.

It was believed the man was ‘test-driving’ the crane when it rolled off the road. Picture: 9 News

Emergency services were called to the scene at around 8.30am, with both fire brigade and state ambulance services finding the man trapped inside the machinery.

Superintendent Scott Knowles said while it was believed the man might have initially been alive, the crane’s precarious position made it difficult for emergency services to reach him.

Police believe the man was still alive when emergency services arrived on scene. Picture: Twitter

“Fire brigade and Queensland Ambulance Service were on scene and attempted to rescue this person. Unfortunately, he died at the scene as a result of injuries that occurred from that accident,” he said.

The process was made even more difficult due to fuel leakage and the “precarious position” of the crane, which had rolled down the embankment towards a creek.

Despite failed attempts to rouse the driver, emergency services believed he might have been unconscious inside the vehicle when they first arrived on scene.

The man was trapped inside the crane after it rolled down a steep embankment towards Currumbin Creek. Picture: 9 News

“In terms of trying to safely recover the driver, at the time we believe he was alive, (but) there was also obviously risk for those first responders that were there,” Superintendent Knowles said.

“Unfortunately, by the time we managed to get to the driver he was deceased.”

While investigations into the circumstances surrounding the incident are ongoing, police believe the man was only “test driving” the crane and was not operating it for any work activity.

The incident has also been reported to Workplace Health and Safety Queensland.