New Zealand Fire Service: Fire Service tried its best

Firefighters, including specialist urban search and rescue personnel, would have done anything they could to save a construction worker buried under tons of soil in Mission Bay yesterday.

Deputy chief fire officer Graham Fuller said today that all the team involved were devastated that they could not save the man, but it was a very risky situation.

The Fire Service operates under a safe person concept where firefighters have to assess the risk to themselves and others and the likely outcome when attempting to save a life.

In this case, the advice from engineers at the scene was that ground was too unstable and it was simply too dangerous to attempt a rescue – specially when the man’s chances of survival were so slim.

The man’s family expressed concern that it seemed to take a long time for action to occur.

“I’m sure every minute seems like an eternity when a loved one is involved. We were working every minute to try to free the man.

“Rescue work of this nature is complex and dangerous and needs to be carried out safely.

“All our decisions were based on expert, professional advice from paramedics and engineers.

“We are devastated we could not save the man, but we did everything we could do in a professional, appropriate and safe way. We tried our best.”

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