A construction worker was spotted hanging onto a malfunctioning crane as its arm collapsed onto the pool deck of a nearby luxury high-rise in Miami, according to video footage captured by a bystander on Friday.
The footage, recorded by Macy Norod, illustrated the crane’s arm flying through the air, crashing into a palm tree in the pool area of the One Plaza West Brickell condominium. Norod mentioned he was “shocked and in disbelief” while observing the incident from his home office.
“I almost saw a worker die from being crushed by the weight of the crane,” Norod stated. His video showed workers in green vests at the top of the building during the collapse, eventually descending a ladder to safety.
Lt. Pete Sanchez from Miami Fire Rescue explained that “some kind of malfunction” occurred that afternoon as the crane was being assembled and wasn’t yet operational.
After the arm fell, it landed on the rooftop and partially submerged in the pool, as revealed by images shared by Miami Fire and Rescue. Sanchez noted that firefighters quickly accessed the pool deck, conducted a thorough search, and determined that there were no injuries. The area was secured to keep residents and the public away while ensuring the site remained safe.
Construction workers also reassured authorities that all personnel had been accounted for, with no injuries reported. Investigations are underway by both the Miami Building Department and the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
