Real Life Incident: Fatal Use of Crow Bar
This event was narrated by a Chief Officer who joined the vessel after the accident occurred. The vessel, a coaster of 75 m in length, was at anchor and experiencing a moderate swell. The cable was paid out to about 7 shackles in the water. The brakes were tightened along with the bow stopper.
The vessel began to pitch heavily, resulting in the cable getting severely strained at times, which in turn made the cable slip from the brakes as well as through the bow stopper. Seeing the cable slipping, the Chief Officer grabbed a crow bar which was nearby and inserted it in the cable, so that, when the cable slipped, the crow-bar jammed against the bow stopper.
The crow-bar parted with a loud noise. The seaman, who was standing right next to the Chief Officer, said that the Chief Officer had simply ‘crumpled’ and collapsed onto the deck. Subsequent investigations revealed that part of the crow bar, about 10cm long, had struck the side of his temple, just below the safety helmet. The piece of metal had flown so fast that no one had seen the projectile.
Arrangements were made to berth the vessel immediately (as the seas were too rough for him to be lowered onto the Naval boat which arrived promptly). Within about 2 hours, he was able to be landed ashore and subsequently taken to a hospital. Although surgery had been carried out promptly, he succumbed to his injuries four days later, without regaining consciousness.
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Disclaimer :
The information on this website is for general purposes only. While efforts are made to ensure accuracy, we make no warranties of any kind regarding completeness, reliability, or suitability. Any reliance you place on such information is at your own risk. We are not liable for any loss or damage arising from the use of this website.
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