A CRANE driver working at the A3 tunnel site at Hindhead was rescued unhurt by a fire crew last Friday morning. A tall crane working close to the tunnel site tipped backwards, lifting the cab up with the driver stuck inside. Two fire crews were mobilised, from Haslemere and Grayshott, with the Haslemere team first at the scene. An aerial ladder platform was called from Chertsey to help the driver out of the cab. Haslemere watch manager Larry Bennett told the Herald: "We had to risk assess the situation to make sure that the crane was not going anywhere before we could get him down." Once it was certain the crane was safe and stabilised, the platform could be raised to rescue the stranded driver. An ambulance stood by to make sure the driver was uninjured and a Hampshire fire and rescue representative was also called, in case heavy rescue equipment was needed. A spokesman for contractors Balfour Beatty said an investigation into the incident was ongoing. She said: "At 8.15am on May 16, an incident occurred on the A3 Hindhead project, when a mobile tracked crawler-crane tipped over. "The health and safety of the public and our workforce is always the prime concern of Balfour Beatty."
