Thursday 28 March 2024
 6.8°C   ENE Gentle Breeze
Ocean Kinetics - The Engineering Experts

News / Sumburgh runway opened up beneath digger

The scene at Sumburgh airport on Sunday morning as emergency services rescue the trapped digger driver. Photo Ronnie Robertson

A WORKMAN is recovering in hospital in Lerwick after a digger he was driving toppled into a hole that opened up beneath him while he was repairing the runway at Shetland’s Sumburgh airport.

Fire crews from Lerwick, Sandwick and Sumburgh raced to the scene when the alarm was raised at 9.12am on Sunday morning.

Reports from the scene said the man had been working on the new runway extension on the east end of the 09/27 runway in Force 9 south easterly gales.

One observer said the runway gave way under the digger and it fell into a hole, trappping the driver’s hips between the digger’s cab and the side of the hole.

It took fire crews just under one hour to remove the injured driver through the cab’s rear window, after they had used another digger and a dumper truck to stabilise the vehicle.

As a safety precaution he was carried to one of two waiting ambulances on a spinal board before being driven to Lerwick’s Gilbert Bain Hospital.

A hospital spokeswoman said his condition was satisfactory and he was currently under observation. It is unclear whether he will be kept in overnight.

The Sumburgh airport runway extension has been under repair since last summer when the Scottish government announced a £12 million grant towards the project.

The initial extension is still subject to a legal dispute between Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd and Shetland Islands Council, who managed the building project, over who is responsible for its failure to stand up to Shetland’s severe winter weather.

Become a supporter of Shetland News

Shetland News is asking its many readers to consider start paying for their dose of the latest local news delivered straight to their PC, tablet or mobile phone.

Journalism comes at a price and because that price is not being paid in today’s rapidly changing media world, most publishers - national and local - struggle financially despite very healthy audience figures.

Most online publishers have started charging for access to their websites, others have chosen a different route. Shetland News currently has  over 600 supporters  who are all making small voluntary financial contributions. All funds go towards covering our cost and improving the service further.

Your contribution will ensure Shetland News can: -

  • Bring you the headlines as they happen;
  • Stay editorially independent;
  • Give a voice to the community;
  • Grow site traffic further;
  • Research and publish more in-depth news, including more Shetland Lives features.

If you appreciate what we do and feel strongly about impartial local journalism, then please become a supporter of Shetland News by either making a single payment or monthly subscription.

Support us from as little as £3 per month – it only takes a minute to sign up. Thank you.

 
Categories

Newsletters

Subscribe to a selection of different newsletters from Shetland News, varying from breaking news delivered on the minute, to a weekly round-up of the opinion posts. All delivered straight to your inbox.

Daily Briefing Newsletter Weekly Highlights Newsletter Opinion Newsletter Life in Shetland Newsletter

JavaScript Required

We're sorry, but Shetland News isn't fully functional without JavaScript enabled.
Head over to the help page for instructions on how to enable JavaScript on your browser.

Your Privacy

We use cookies on our site to improve your experience.
By using our service, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy.

Browser is out-of-date

Shetland News isn't fully functional with this version of .
Head over to the help page for instructions on updating your browser for more security, improved speed and the best overall experience on this site.

Interested in Notifications?

Get notifications from Shetland News for important and breaking news.
You can unsubscribe at any time.

Become a supporter of Shetland News

We're committed to ensuring everyone has equitable access to impartial, open and quality local journalism that benefits all residents.

By supporting Shetland News, you play a vital role in ensuring we remain a pivotal resource in supporting the community.

Support us from as little as £3 per month – it only takes a minute to sign up. Thank you.