A 45-year-old man has died and a 19-year-old has been seriously injured after a retaining wall collapsed at a social housing construction site in Brisbane's West End. Emergency services were called to the industrial site on Boundary Street at about 8:30am following reports that two workers had become trapped.
The older man was declared dead at the scene, while the younger worker was trapped for over an hour before being freed. He was taken to the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital in a serious but stable condition. Queensland Police Inspector Chris Pemberton said eight workers were on site at the time, and with police assistance, they removed a large amount of concrete from the 19-year-old's chest, which was restricting his breathing.
Inspector Pemberton said the men were believed to be known to each other and were working in a shallow trench about 600 millimetres deep. The retaining wall was on the boundary about a metre from where they were working. He described the incident as tragic, especially so close to Christmas.
Queensland Fire Department Acting Inspector Marc O'Brien said crews used equipment typically employed in disaster zones to monitor site safety during the rescue. Large pieces of plywood were used to cover open trenches to protect emergency service workers. He offered condolences to the family, friends, and workmates of the deceased.
Boundary Street remains closed between Melbourne Street and Edmonstone Street, with motorists advised to avoid the area. A neighbour, Rhett, told ABC Radio Brisbane he was advised to leave his house due to concerns it might also collapse. Workplace Health and Safety Queensland is investigating, and Queensland Police will prepare a report for the coroner.
