‘They thought he was dead’: Man injured in NGV mishap

A man has been injured after a heavy steel plate fell on him while working at the National Gallery of Victoria.

The worker was four metres down a lift shaft when the plate trapped him.

Crews were called to the Ian Potter Museum in Federation Square about 11.30pm after staff raised the alarm.

MFB commander Graham O’Sullivan says the man’s two colleagues thought he was dead.

“They couldn’t get a response from him initially,” Mr O’Sullivan said.

“He had some pretty serious injuries but luckily he survived and was conscious and breathing throughout the rescue.”

A 90-minute rescue involving specialist MFB crews successfully retrieved the patient, handing him to waiting paramedics.

Mr O’Sullivan told Justin and Kate the man is in hospital with a broken leg and broken collarbone.

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