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Five die in wall collapse at Birmingham recycling site Five die in wall collapse at Birmingham recycling site
(35 minutes later)
Five men have died in an accident at a recycling site in Birmingham. Five men have been killed when a wall collapsed on them at a recycling site in Birmingham.
Police were called to Hawkeswood Metal in the Nechells area of the city shortly before 09:00 BST on Thursday.Police were called to Hawkeswood Metal in the Nechells area of the city shortly before 09:00 BST on Thursday.
It is understood a wall at the site on Aston Church Road had collapsed on the men. A spokesman for West Midlands Police said emergency services attended the site but the men were pronounced dead.
A spokesman for West Midlands Police said the emergency services attended the scene but the men were pronounced dead. He described it as "a very traumatic incident." Det Supt Mark Payne described the scene on Aston Church Road as "a very traumatic incident." It is understood a sixth man managed to scramble free.
A sixth man managed to scramble free from the rubble and was taken to Heartlands Hospital with a broken leg. He was taken to Heartlands Hospital with a broken leg.
Latest updates on this storyLatest updates on this story
A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said: "On arrival, ambulance crews found that a wall had collapsed.A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said: "On arrival, ambulance crews found that a wall had collapsed.
"Sadly, there was nothing that could be done to save the five men who had been working next to it.""Sadly, there was nothing that could be done to save the five men who had been working next to it."
West Midlands Fire Service said its control room had received reports that a person was stuck and suffering cardiac arrest.
The men killed were working next to a "large concrete structure containing metal" when it collapsed, said the fire service.The men killed were working next to a "large concrete structure containing metal" when it collapsed, said the fire service.
A specialist team of firefighters is on scene with heavy lifting gear and cutting equipment to recover their bodies.A specialist team of firefighters is on scene with heavy lifting gear and cutting equipment to recover their bodies.
Assistant Chief Fire Officer Gary Taylor said it was a "devastating incident for everyone involved".Assistant Chief Fire Officer Gary Taylor said it was a "devastating incident for everyone involved".
"Once the police have finished their initial examination of the scene, our absolute priority will be to ensure that the bodies of those who have lost their lives are recovered in the most timely and safe way possible, and with the utmost dignity and respect."Once the police have finished their initial examination of the scene, our absolute priority will be to ensure that the bodies of those who have lost their lives are recovered in the most timely and safe way possible, and with the utmost dignity and respect.
"The scene is an extremely challenging one, involving significant tonnage of concrete and metal and a structure that is still unstable."The scene is an extremely challenging one, involving significant tonnage of concrete and metal and a structure that is still unstable.
"We have an assertive recovery plan in place and expect this operation to take several hours.""We have an assertive recovery plan in place and expect this operation to take several hours."
The Health and Safety Executive has been informed and it is understood officers are at the scene.The Health and Safety Executive has been informed and it is understood officers are at the scene.
Det Supt Mark Payne said: "We are still in the very early stages of this investigation to determine exactly what happened this morning. Det Supt Payne said: "We are still in the very early stages of this investigation to determine exactly what happened this morning.
"Sadly five people have lost their lives and we have several teams of specialist officers supporting their families at this time."Sadly five people have lost their lives and we have several teams of specialist officers supporting their families at this time.
"This has been a very traumatic incident for those who were at the site this morning and we will continue to work alongside the HSE and the other emergency services at the scene.""This has been a very traumatic incident for those who were at the site this morning and we will continue to work alongside the HSE and the other emergency services at the scene."
At a news conference at the scene, Mr Payne said the victims were working to recover scrap metal when the accident happened. At a news conference from the scene, he said the victims had been working to recover scrap metal when the accident happened.
He described the collapsed structure as 12-15ft high and made of "concrete blocks" which were supporting the scrap metal. He described the collapsed structure as 12-15ft high and made of "concrete blocks" which were supporting the scrap metal.
"It appears the wall collapsed on the men and the scrap metal has fallen on top," he said. "It's a difficult and complex scene."
The officer said the recovery operation was expected to last most of the day, with witness statements and CCTV of the scene being gathered.The officer said the recovery operation was expected to last most of the day, with witness statements and CCTV of the scene being gathered.
John Woodhall, from West Midlands Ambulance Service hazardous response team, described workers at the scene as being "very upset". Police liaison officers are with the families of some of the men helping them to cope with what he described as a "tragic incident".
"We've had to bring in heavy lifting equipment - there are a number of hazards we've got to resolve," he added. John Woodhall, from West Midlands Ambulance Service hazardous response team, described workers at the scene being "very upset".
"We've had to bring in heavy lifting equipment, there are a number of hazards we've got to resolve," he added.
"It's very hazardous. We've put a lot of resources in. There are a number of dangers and we are working to mitigate them.""It's very hazardous. We've put a lot of resources in. There are a number of dangers and we are working to mitigate them."
Slav Angiyu, a truck driver, was on the site when the accident happened.
He said: "The guys came over and said something had happened and we had to abandon the site. My heart goes out to the families of the victims."
The recycling plant was the scene of a major fire in February this year, when 700 tonnes of scrap metal went up in flames.
According to its company website, Hawkeswood Metal Recycling processes more than 500,000 tonnes of scrap metal each year.
The firm began trading more than 40 years ago and has a customer base that includes local authorities, major PLCs and smaller independent companies.