Abraham Darby Academy collapse - 'A sound like thunder'

Many thought it was a clap of thunder, but when they began hearing frantic cries for help residents realised it was something far more serious.

Locals watched in horror after hearing the massive sound of a canopy attached to the roof of the multi-million pound Abraham Darby Academy building in Madeley, Telford, come crashing down.

Large crowds quickly gathered outside the school, which is due to open in January, as word of the collapse broke on the Shropshire Star website.

And they watched in disbelief as construction workers were pulled from the rubble and dozens of police, firefighters and ambulance officials worked at the site.

As the rescue operation began residents spoke of their shock and described the scenes they saw in the aftermath of the incident yesterday afternoon.

A resident from Willowfield, Woodside, who did not want to be named, said he was in the bath when the canopy collapsed.

"It was like thunder – and I thought it was thunder," he said.

Janet Smith, who lives on Wyvern, said: "There was a loud bang. We came out to see what it was and there were hundreds of people here. It is really bad. I don't think the building looks safe and a lot of the brickwork has been damaged."

Nichola Normington, 18, of Woodside, said: "We heard so many sirens – it was unbelievable. I would say there were almost 100 people gathered around the site and bricks keep falling down from the building too." Mother Lorraine Pritchard, 48, from Hollinswood, said she was at the site just hours earlier when her 14-year-old daughter Alice was collecting her GCSE results.

"It's shocking. I was here only yesterday morning and I sat in the car admiring the building and I was thinking of Alice going in there in January," she said. "I thought 'my children could have been in there'.

"Woodland Primary School are also meant to be moving in there, I can't believe it."

Daughter Alice added: "I heard the floors inside have collapsed," she said, "I never thought it was going to be like this." The building, which is designed to cater for 1,050 academy pupils and 420-place primary school children, is made of glass, wood and steel.

The finished academy will also feature a massive sports and leisure complex, including a pool. Young mum Charlotte Beeching said she thought there had been a terrorist attack. She was walking home with her three children after shopping at Tesco in Madeley centre when she heard the collapse.

"I was just by the Woodlands Primary School when I heard this really big sound," said 25-year-old Charlotte, of Weybridge, Woodside.

"It sounded like something was getting knocked down. I presumed it was the houses on Woodside they were knocking down.

"I went to have a look. When I got there it had just happened and there were two people standing there looking at it. "I did not really see much. I had my children and was trying to get them away. I didn't realise it was anything to do with the school. I thought it was a terrorist attack or something." Ian Hartley, of Stanier Drive, Woodside, said he was concerned about what had happened at the school.

He said: "My daughter Hope is coming here in January when it opens and it is a worry.

"I think the structure itself looks quite safe, but it is the canopy that is really damaged.

"I'm sure health and safety officers will have a look at it and it won't be passed fit for children to use before that happens.

"But as a parent it is still a major worry.

"I thought the building work was going quite well, and it is a shame this has happened."

One man, who did not wish to be named, said: "I only drove past the place yesterday and thought how nice it looked. I'm shocked.

"I've got friends who are sending their children to the school – people are worried and it is quite understandable.

"I'm just glad it happened now and not when the kids are there. It could have been a whole lot worse."

A resident living in School Road close to the academy, who also did not want to be named, said: "I went to have a look and it was a mess, with lots of people there, including ambulance, air ambulance, paramedics, and First Response. I was gobsmacked.

"My daughter had phoned me and said the Abraham Darby had collapsed. I didn't believe her. I went white when I saw it.

"You wonder whether somebody you know is involved.

"Quite a few locals work there. It's such a shame."

Murray MacGregor, press spokesman for West Midlands Ambulance Service, confirmed five people were taken to hospital.

He said: "When ambulance staff arrived, they found a large metal structure that had been put up around the school had collapsed. In total, there were four serious injuries.

"A man in his 40s had suffered spinal injuries.

"He was immobilised using a neck collar and spinal board and was airlifted to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham.

"A man in his 50s had leg and chest injuries, a man in his 20s had abdominal injuries and another man in his 20s had back and pelvic injuries.

"All three were taken to Princess Royal Hospital in Telford which had been alerted to the possibility of a large number of patients."

He added: "The final patient was a man who had minor injuries and was taken for a check-up.

"Despite the complexity of the incident and the difficult working conditions, all of the patients were on route to hospital within only an hour of the first 999 call."

Chris Ammonds, of West Mercia Police, said: "The construction workers are all recovering well and there are not thought to be any long term or serious injuries."

Jason Green, spokesman for the Health and Safety Executive, said an inspector was attending the site. Mr Green said: "We are aware of this incident and we are making initial inquiries."

Today Jane Mason, spokeswoman for construction firm Kier, confirmed that its workers were treated in hospital following the collapse of the canopy.

She said: "We confirm that five of our site team were taken to hospital and all have been kept in overnight.

"The police remain on the scene and the Health & Safety Executive is attending the site this morning.

"We will be co-operating fully with them as part of an investigation to determine exactly what happened."