Crane parts crash down into back garden

A Sliema family got a nasty surprise yesterday morning when parts of a mechanical crane came crashing down into their back garden.

The steel cable and hopper of a crane which has been idle for years fell several storeys into the garden and a construction site next door in Manwel Dimech Street, resident Martin Ellul said.

Fortunately, no one was injured.

The Sliema police said they were investigating the incident.

Mr Ellul was counting his lucky stars but could not contain his anger over the incident.

"I walked into my garden as I always do at 6.30 a.m. Just 15 minutes after I had walked back inside I heard a large thud and something came crashing down," Mr Ellul said.

Mr Ellul claimed the crane had been lying idle for several years. The least the crane owners could have done was to dismantle it, he said.

It has not been established what caused the incident though there were strong winds yesterday morning.

The contractor who owns the crane could not be contacted for comment.