Dramatic Rescue: Two Workers Saved From 70-Meter Crane in Ramat Beit Shemesh
Two construction workers were rescued Wednesday after becoming trapped 70 meters up on a crane at a Ramat Beit Shemesh building site, one injured, in a complex high-altitude rescue operation by firefighters and the special rescue unit.
A complex and high-stakes rescue operation unfolded Wednesday at a construction site at the entrance to the Ramat Beit Shemesh Dalet neighborhood, after two workers became stranded at a height of approximately 70 meters on a crane, one of them injured.
Firefighters from the Beit Shemesh station, together with the elite YALAM special rescue unit, were scrambled to the scene and deployed advanced rope systems and specialized high-altitude equipment to reach the trapped workers.
The double complexity of the situation, extreme height combined with one worker's injuries, demanded precise planning and extraordinary care from rescue teams throughout the operation. Rescuers had to contend with difficult access angles to the crane structure while simultaneously managing the medical condition of the injured worker.
After a sustained rescue effort, both workers were brought safely down to the ground. The injured worker was immediately transferred to medical personnel waiting at the scene and evacuated to hospital for further treatment. The second worker was assessed as being in good condition.
Commander's Account
Incident commander Chief Officer Zechariah Rafael described the challenge his teams faced: "This was a complex and sensitive rescue at very significant height, which required high skill, precise work, and full cooperation between the teams. Thanks to the rapid response we succeeded in rescuing both workers safely and transferring the injured man for further medical care."
The rescue took place at the construction site of the Sun Mall shopping center, currently being built at the entrance to the Ramat Beit Shemesh Dalet neighborhood.
Crane rescues at significant heights are among the most technically demanding operations faced by Israeli rescue services, requiring specialized training and equipment that the YALAM unit trains for specifically.