Scariest Moment

[yorkshire pudding]

In Brisbane,full extent of a 29 Metre MEWP taking down a big ole iron bark.Had to lower it because of location.took the top out beautifully,unfortunatley hit an unseen paperwasp nest and got covered from top to toe in these little bastard wasps stinging the hell out of us.Operator was i shorts so he got the worst of us both,went home for the afternoon,via the hospital.

I was brushing the buggers from his face so he could see to operate the levers whilst shouting "DEADMAN,DEADMAN,DEADMAN"not realising thats not the term he used for a emergency return lever that did'nt exist on this platform,just in my head.Made it to about 6 M from the deck before i bailed out,lol.Luckily the lads had a bottle of gator antiseptic type stuff ready and sprayed me down with that.Felt a bit strange but carried on with the day,just a lot slower and had a weird vibratey buzzy feel about meself,most strange.

Oh,lost me bloody watch with all the arm flailing too haha,would'nt recomend it.

[MasterBlaster]

Falling 45 foot in a MEWP

 

 

I'm surprised you had time to be scared. IME, the falling experience is over before you have time for emotions.

[rk23]

Not entirely sure about that MB, fell about 35' in Cheddar Gorge a few years back. Had time to think "Haven't I hit the ground ye...". Anything under 20' seems to be over too quickly to react, just get that weightless sensation.

[Dean Lofthouse]

I'm surprised you had time to be scared. IME, the falling experience is over before you have time for emotions.

 

It happens suprising slow.

 

I remember looking back at the MEWP legs and trying to analyze what was happening, I then remember a strange sensation of flooding with adrenalin, then looking down at my landcruiser roof hoping we would hit that which would cushion the fall, I then looked at my mates face which was one of terror, I adjusted my stance and position ready for impact and then finally the rush of wind on my face just before impact.

 

BTW, we missed the car by 4" and hit a privet hedge which saved our lives

 

It is true that everything goes into slow motion and you seem to have loads of time to think, analyze what to do, etc

[stampy]

Anything under 20' seems to be over too quickly to react, just get that weightless sensation.

 

yup, that's true. topping a crappy conifer hedge last summer, lent back in my rope about 15feet up and had the sickening feeling like falling off a chair backwards....all I thought when falling was 'wha....' then BANG. I was kind of gutted that nothing went in slow motion and my life didn't flash before my eyes. Landed on my saw, smashing it quite comprehensively with my back. I wouldn't recommend it. Cue coughing up blood and air ambulance drama. That was quite scary. Amazingly, only got soft tissue damage in my back/shoulder, they couldn't work out where the blood was coming from. Still don't know what went wrong - my anchor point was intact, as were all my knots...weird.