BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP, Mich. – A construction worker who was on the roof of the Dick's Sporting Goods store in Bloomfield Township was hurt Friday morning when he fell through a hole.
The work-place accident sparked a dramatic rescue.
Bloomfield Township firefighters arrived at the scene just before 8 a.m. and told Local 4 News the man fell 12 feet through a hole in the roof and landed on a concrete "mezzanine" that will be used as a storage space inside the store when work on the building is done.
That posed a tricky extrication job for rescuers.
Firefighters came up with the idea to use a forklift that was inside the building used for construction to lift themselves up to the concrete slab were the man was lying.
They were able to reach him, strap him to a backboard and then use the construction equipment vehicle to lower him to the ground and remove him from the building.
He was rushed to a hospital in Pontiac for treatment.
Fire officials say he suffered non-life-threatening injuries and was lucky to have landed on the concrete slab and didn't fall 25 feet from the roof to the ground inside the building.
However, a worker on-scene said the man was "pretty messed up" and suffered head, neck and back injuries.
Michigan OSHA is aware of the accident and is sending an investigator.
Right now, MIOSHA does not know what construction company is responsible for the job.