UPDATE: Blocklayer suffers serious injuries after wall falls on him in Limerick

A BLOCKLAYER was airlifted to hospital after a wall fell on him in Kilfinane this Tuesday morning.

Limerick Live understands his leg got trapped in the workplace incident and he has suffered serious but non life threatening crush injuries to his lower body.

It is thought that the man, who was working on his own, rang the emergency services on his mobile phone shortly before 10am.

A major response was activated with the air ambulance, paramedics with the national ambulance service, firefighters from Kilmallock and gardai all descending on the town.

The injured party is believed to have been clearing the back of a property in Kilfinane at the time. It is suspected that the foundations of the wall had weakened over time and fell on the man who was in close proximity.

Firefighters and gardai cleared rubble and tended to the man until paramedics could give expert medical care and move him. He was taken from the scene on a spinal board and flown to hospital for treatment for his crush injuries. They are said to be serious but not life threatening.

A garda spokesperson confirmed gardaí assisted emergency services with a medical emergency that occurred in Kilfinane on Tuesday morning.

“Enquiries are ongoing in conjunction with the Health and Safety Authority,” said the garda spokesperson.

A Health and Safety Authority spokesperson said: “The HSA is aware of this incident and are making the relevant enquiries at this time.”

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One local told Limerick Live: “When we saw the helicopter in the sky and the sirens of the ambulance, firefighters and guards, we knew something very serious was after happening. 

"I’m praying he will make a full recovery. It’s a freak thing to happen.

"Thank God he had his mobile phone with him and was able to ring emergency services. He was on his own so if he didn’t have his phone he could have been there for ages.”