Man, 58, critically injured as concrete roof collapses

A 58-year-old man had his legs crushed when the ceiling of a room he was demolishing caved in, trapping him from his waist down under the concrete yesterday.

He was rushed to hospital after being rescued from under the rubble and found to be in critical condition.

The incident happened at about 3 p.m. when Carmelo Mifsud was with his brother working on renovations to his house in Lord Byron Street, Sta Venera. He was demolishing the roof of a small room in the backyard when it caved in. His brother was just a few metres away but escaped unscathed.

Mr Mifsud ended up trapped under the heavy concrete. It took Civil Protection Department personnel about an hour to free him as relatives waited tortuously in the garage.

Sources said the injuries to his legs were very serious and he had also sustained other injuries, particularly to his back and head. However, he was conscious during the rescue operation.

After he was freed and was being carried to the waiting ambulance, a female relative had to be restrained by the police when she tried to stop cameramen from filming the event. “This is a tragedy not a family that has just won the Super 5 jackpot,” she shouted.

Duty Magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera held an onsite inquiry. She appointed court experts to assist her.