Teenager Rescued from Crane After Social Media Stunt Goes Wrong in Melbourne
A 17-year-old boy has been dramatically rescued from a construction crane in Ivanhoe, Melbourne, after a social media stunt left him stranded 30 metres above ground. The incident occurred late on Thursday night when the teenager climbed the crane to capture photos on his mobile phone.
Emergency Rescue Operation
The situation escalated when the boy's smartphone battery died and his shoes became wet, leaving him unable to safely descend. In a desperate move, he threw a handwritten note down to emergency services personnel waiting below, explaining he was too frightened to climb down and providing his father's contact number.
Firefighters from the high-angle rescue team were immediately dispatched to the scene. They successfully reached the stranded teenager and carefully escorted him down to safety, where his anxious father was waiting.
Police Hunt for SES Equipment Thieves in Separate Melbourne Incident
In an unrelated but equally concerning development, Victoria Police are searching for four men who stole approximately $40,000 worth of State Emergency Service equipment from a Melbourne facility. The theft occurred at the VICSES facility on Rutherford Street in Aberfeldie during the early hours of Wednesday morning.
Brazen Theft Details
The masked intruders jumped a fence to access the property around 1am, where they proceeded to steal chainsaws, power tools, harness equipment, and radios from storage boxes on SES vehicles. The entire operation took less than ten minutes, but two of the men returned about 90 minutes later to steal additional tools.
Police have emphasized the critical importance of the stolen equipment, describing it as "integral for their volunteers when responding to flood and storm events and other emergency incidents." The theft has potentially compromised the SES's ability to respond effectively to community emergencies.
Suspect Descriptions Released
Detectives have released detailed descriptions of the four men they wish to question:
- The first suspect wore a black "Fear of God Essentials" shirt, black baseball cap, light purple-red shorts, and light grey Adidas Gazelle style shoes.
- The second individual had a black hoodie with white text on the back, black shorts, and black and white TN Nike shoes.
- The third man was spotted in a grey hoodie, blue gloves, light blue pants, and black running shoes.
- The final suspect wore a black t-shirt with a white cross logo on the back, black Champion-brand pants, and white high-top shoes.
All four men are described as Caucasian in appearance. Police have urged anyone with information about either incident to contact Crime Stoppers immediately.
These two separate incidents highlight different challenges facing emergency services in Melbourne - from responding to dangerous social media trends to protecting vital equipment from criminal activity.
