Security guard crushed to death by falling crane hook

A 29-year-old security guard died after a hook block of a tower crane fell on the guardhouse of a construction site at the Cebu IT Park in Barangay Apas, Cebu City Wednesday evening.

The victim was identified as Junrel Tenebroso, a native of Barili town who had been temporarily residing in Nivel Hills, Barangay Lahug, Cebu City.

Senior Police Officer 1 Winston Ybañez, investigator of the case, told The FREEMAN that as per the account of Demetrio Cornecio Jr., the tower crane operator, while he was hauling steel pipes the crane cable suddenly got stuck and eventually broke off and the hook block fell straight down to the guardhouse.

“Naghaul daw ni siya, unya pag-lift niya sa crane kay nakabantay siya nga niungot daw ang cable, mura'g sa kakusog sa pag-lift ug pag-rotate. Mura'g napugos pagbira,” said Ybañez.

Ybañez said the incident transpired at around 9:30 p.m. but was reported to police at around midnight.

Ybañez said that when they arrived at the construction site, they saw the victim's body completely crushed.

“Mura nalang gyud og papel ang lawas sa victim pag-abot namo, bug-at gud na ang hook,” Ybañez.

Allegedly, the tower crane was situated directly above the guardhouse which is very hazardous, according to Ybañez.

Personnel from the Emergency Rescue Unit Foundation (ERUF) immediately responded but the victim was already showing no signs of life.

The tower crane operator is now in the custody of Mabolo Police Station.

Ybañez said the family of the victim has not yet decided whether to file a case against the crane operator.