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A New Zealand concrete worker screamed for help seconds before plunging to his death with a workmate from a Gold Coast high-rise construction site yesterday.
Chris Gear, a 36-year-old father of two, slid off an outdoor swinging platform, with local man Steve Sayer, 52, as one side slumped and left them dangling from harnesses before the platform collapsed and they fell, Brisbane's Sunday Mail newspaper reported.
Shocked workers at the almost-completed Meriton Pegasus apartment complex at Broadbeach looked up as the men cried out for help, and saw them fall 26 storeys.
The two form workers had been patching concrete on outside walls, working from a platform suspended from the top of the building and anchored by counterweights.
Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union state secretary Michael Ravbar said it appeared that the counterweights had somehow come over the top of the building.
"It's been a catastrophic collapse," Mr Ravbar said.
"The blokes screamed out and a lot of people turned around and saw them hanging from the harness and the next minute the counterweights have come over the top."
The two men died instantly about 9.30am.
Mr Gear had been employed with Gold Coast formwork company Pryme Pty Ltd for five years and Mr Sayer had worked there for two years, company officials said.
"I knew them both very well," Pryme safety manager and union delegate Garry Partridge told the Sunday Mail. "They were both such happy fellows. That makes it even harder to deal with.
He had spoken with the New Zealander earlier: "Chris yelled out: `It's a beautiful day'."
About 100 workers were on the site when the accident occurred, working on the 181-apartment resort-style building which is due to open in September.
Work was suspended immediately, with many men leaving the site visibly upset.
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd began his speech at the Queensland Labor conference at the nearby Gold Coast Convention Centre by mentioning the accident.
"We have seen two construction workers lose their lives," Mr Rudd said.
"As Labor people, our thoughts are with the families of those men and this terrible accident reminds us all... of the dangers which continue to affect so many of the work sites of Australia."
- NZPA
