CTV collapse: Demolition expert dug woman to safety

By Kloe Palmer

A demolition expert who dug through the rubble in the hours following the CTV building collapse has spoken of his experience as he pulled a woman to safety.

Diggers, cranes and concrete cutters were just some of the machinery that helped in the rescue operation.

It is hoped demolition crews can help a coronial inquest determine how and when eight people died after they survived the initial collapse.

Douglas Watts of OMC Power was certain he could hear a human cry from beneath the rubble his machinery was working on. He called for silence and started digging by hand.

According to Mr Watts, this happened soon after his crew arrived, which he says wasnt long after the earthquake struck.

The first thing she said when she got out was, in an Asian accent, 50 more people, 50 more people, thats when I realised there were more people in there.

During this stage of the Coronial Inquiry, emergency services have come under fire for being disorganised during the initial stages of the rescue.

Today, demolition workers who helped on site were asked their opinion.

Jason Campbell of Smith Crane and Construction told the inquiry his crane was used to lift some of the first firefighters on the scene to the top of the buildings burning lift shaft, to check for survivors.

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CTV collapse: Demolition expert dug woman to safety