Wind Turbine Rescue: Man Saved After Dramatic 100-Meter Extraction in Genk, Belgium
Genk, Belgium - A 29-year-old man from Mol is recovering in hospital after a harrowing five-hour rescue operation from a wind turbine in Genk, Belgium, on Wednesday afternoon. The worker became trapped with his arm in the gears of the turbine while performing maintenance with a colleague at the Enercon Werken business park on Henry Fordlaan.
Emergency services were alerted around 3:30 PM when the colleague realized the severity of the situation. A large-scale response ensued,involving 24 firefighters,a pit team from East Limburg Hospital,and a MUG (Mobile Emergency Unit) team. Carma police conducted initial investigations, and the Labor Inspectorate was also dispatched to the scene.
The rescue proved exceptionally challenging, requiring firefighters to ascend the 100-meter structure. “With the elevator we were able to reach about 80 meters, the last 20 meters we had to climb,” explained Major Bart Aerts of the East Limburg fire zone. “We received help from some people from Enercon themselves.We had to search for a long time to free the person, without losing his arm. Every movement could be fatal.”
Due to the confined space,lowering the man directly down the turbineS lift was impossible. Instead, emergency services meticulously lowered him to the ground on a stretcher using chains, with a trained climber supervising the descent.
“Everything went through the safety procedure,” Major Aerts assured, emphasizing that the equipment and techniques used were standard and regularly practiced in emergency drills.
The operation was further intricate by heavy rainfall, requiring constant monitoring to ensure conditions didn’t deteriorate and create additional hazards.
“Intact” and Recovering
Despite the ordeal,the worker was successfully extracted with his arm and hand intact.He was promptly attended to by a doctor throughout the rescue, who provided reassurance and medical assessment.
“The urgency doctor was with him constantly, both at height and on the ground, and continuously spoke with the victim to reassure him,” stated Jurgen Ritzen, spokesperson at East Limburg Hospital (ZOL).
The man underwent surgery on his hand and arm Wednesday evening, which was deemed prosperous. While amputation was initially a concern, doctors were able to save his hand. He is currently recovering in a regular nursing ward and faces a lengthy rehabilitation process.
The rescued worker has expressed his deep gratitude to his colleagues and the emergency responders for their swift and skillful intervention.
Keywords: Wind Turbine Rescue, Genk, Belgium, Emergency Services, Firefighters, Industrial Accident, Worker Rescue, East Limburg hospital, Enercon, Safety Operation, Rescue Operation, Industrial Safety.
