Construction Crane Falls Into Gulf, Injuring Operator

Courtney Mills

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A construction crane operator was injured on Saturday morning when the giant crane he was maneuvering fell off a barge and tipped over into the Gulf of Mexico.

The operator was subsequently taken to Suncoast Hospital in Largo with minor abrasions on his head and body. No other incidental injuries were reported as a result of the crash.

Initial reports did not exactly clarify why the crane toppled over into the Gulf, but media reports indicated that a giant wave may have been at the root of the problem.

"It was almost like slow motion," said one witness. "The rig went into the water, the crane boom snapped over, and the weight just dragged it real slow of the end of the barge."

The crane had been performing construction on the closed Redington Long Pier in Redington Shores.

For more information on this subject matter, please refer to the section on Worksite Injuries and Workers Compensation.