Almost lost him.....
 

I was on my way home last night and wanted to stop at my house that is under construction to check the mail box. My builder is a fishing buddy and an all around super nice guy about my age. He works really hard and is probably one of the best builders in our area. It is common for him to work at the house on the weekends or evenings just cleaning up or prepping for the next stage. I had been trying to reach him on the nextel DC for about a half hour but it was not working on his end so I figured he was home. I pulled into my house and saw his truck so I thought great! we can talk and BS for a few. The house has the second story walls up and the wall height is 22 feet. The center of the house has a stairway that has not been finished so it is open. As I walked into the house I heard him groaning... turned and he was laying on the concrete unconcious in a huge pool of blood. He had stepped into the stairway hole while working alone and fell 12 feet onto his head and back. I almost crapped myself. I thought he was dead. I called 911 and they came and transported him to the hospital. He has a 4 inch gash on his head, severe concussion, 3 broken ribs, broken shoulder, torn ligaments, and looks like hell. I spent part of the night at the hospital until they knocked him out with pain meds. Just had to tell somebody....it really shook me up. He has no wife or family in the area so me and some buddied will be keeping an eye on him I guess.

Here is a pic of the hole he fell into, the second story walls are standing now though.

Re: Almost lost him.....
 

That really sucks!! Hate to hear of accidents like that. Wish the best to him.

Re: Almost lost him.....
 

Wow he is one lucky man that you came along when you did. I hope he can get back on his feet and go fishing with you soon.

Re: Almost lost him.....
 

Wow how horrible, thank God you stopped by, any idea how long he was lying there? Good thing the kids were not with you. I wish him a speedy recovery.

Re: Almost lost him.....
 

That really sucks!! Hate to hear of accidents like that. Wish the best get well soon


Rick OSG

Re: Almost lost him.....
 

Man he is ONE LUCKY dude. I fell on a job site late one night. Luckily I was able to catch my self as the ladder was sliding. Everything I was carrying went for a spill however.... It happens more often then you would think. Guys get comfortable working and then they get tired or what ever and fall off the roof, fall though a hole, what ever... Hope your buddy recovers ok and that you can find some one new that is as good as he is.

Jon

Re: Almost lost him.....
 

OMG, How terrible! Lucky you came by. Is he going to be OK?
He will be in our thoughts & prayers, does he have parents somewhere?

Our neighbor was going to look at his son's garage door (old, old house) that was not operating properly, and before he could touch it,...it unloaded on the
side of his face, striking him with the giant spring and bar thingy. WELL, he
was ALONE and passed out a few times crawling to the neighbors whom he
did not know. He's going to be OK after 8 hours of facial surgery, metal plates, etc. Broke every bone in the right side of his face, gash on his nose,
crushed his eye socket, may not see. OMG!!

Hope your builder will be OK. :(

Re: Almost lost him.....
 

Holy chit! Good thing you stopped by. Hope he mends well and quickly.

Re: Almost lost him.....
 

Hope he's going to be OK. We ALL need to be careful when working alone like that. At least try to let someone know where you are, and when you'll be back. Goes for boating alone too!

Re: Almost lost him.....
 

Law- glad to hear he is ok. I guess we don't need to tell you that the hole needs to be taped off before some kids get in there late night and you have a lawsuit on your hands.

Re: Almost lost him.....
 

Glad he's OK, very lucky.

Hard barriers around any floor penetration 42" high with top and mid-rail even a toe plate so you can't kick a hammer down on some poor guy, or else it's a sh!t storm with OSHA around here.

Re: Almost lost him.....
 

ugh. hurts to read it.

I guess we've all worked alone where we shouldn't have.

Re: Almost lost him.....
 

Best wishes to him.

Re: Almost lost him.....
 

What a bummer !

L.S.

Re: Almost lost him.....
 

That sucks ..does he have insurance ? Put the temp stairs up ..
Best of luck to him ..

Re: Almost lost him.....
 

Holy Chit!!! Luckily you came by!!! Keep us posted on his condition. :(

Re: Almost lost him.....
 

dh, Any updates?

Did you get rid of the Raptor? :( :D

Re: Almost lost him.....
 

Still got it... it is kinda growing on me!! I had an offer of $4500.....

Re: Almost lost him.....
 

Thats my offer...My only problem is getting it up here to pa. when you sell it to me!! :D But then again a friend of mine is dropping his sutphen off at his Cape Coral house and could pick it up on the way home!! Can we still deal? :D

Re: Almost lost him.....
 

We can deal..... just call me tomorrow.

Re: Almost lost him.....
 

pm your number I may have lost it. Thanks!!

Re: Almost lost him.....
 

R, I can store it for you. :D

Re: Almost lost him.....
 

Cuda, I may take you up on that......after dh sends me the keys!! :D :D

Re: Almost lost him.....
 

That just made my heart sink! give us updates. Send him my regards.

Re: Almost lost him.....
 

That transport I may be able to help with... I might head to PA at some time with Jason to go and retrieve a trailer... I will let ya know if I go or not..

Re: Almost lost him.....
 

We wish him well and speedy recovery.........now maybe giving him that nice looking quad would speed the healing process up

Re: Almost lost him.....
 

Sorry to hear about your friend. I've seen too many accidents like that and it's that one moment of "thinking about something else" that seems to be the major cause. At least that is what people have told me.

Back in the mid 70's when the condo craze started hitting Longboat Key, a 'longhair' toked up a big fat one after lunch and walked right off the 6th story balcony and landed in the giant sand pile that the concrete boys had. He rolled out of it laughing and said that if he thought he would be sure to hit it he'd do it again. Was fired ten minutes later.

Re: Almost lost him.....
 

Glad to hear he is ok.
Construction workers should never work alone.

Re: Almost lost him.....
 

Well he just was released from the hospital wednesday with a dis-located shoulder 3 broken ribs and 16 stitches in the back of his head. He is really sore but is complaining that he needs to be up and around so that the trusses can be set on tuesday!!!

Re: Almost lost him.....
 

Now that sounds like a GC I'd like to have. Most of them don't give a $hit about getting a job done once they have most of the money, or it's not time for a draw yet.

Glad to hear he wasn't more seriously injured.