Bulli Builder Loses Leg After Fall

23 March 2001

Four hundred workers closed down a Sydney building site yesterday after a young Bulli apprentice fell three floors and later had part of his leg amputated.

Twenty-year-old Brent Leadbitter fell through three separate floors of mesh in a lift well on to concrete at the $200 million Thiess Royal Prince Alfred Hospital construction site on Wednesday.

He was admitted to the nearby hospital with serious injuries and later had his right leg amputated below the knee.

More than 400 workmates met early yesterday and decided to strike for 24 hours in protest over safety standards on the job.

WorkCover also began an immediate investigation.

CFMEU organiser Dan Murphy claimed the accident could have been avoided had proper safety measures been in place.

``He was working in an area where he shouldn't have been," Mr Murphy said. ``He fell about 13m through three lots of mesh."

Mr Leadbitter's parents, Geoff and Robyn, have maintained a vigil beside their son's hospital bed since the accident.

Mrs Leadbitter said Brent, a third year bricklaying apprentice was ``going through a bad time" but was a strong young man.

``These things are sent to try us," she said.

Their son, the youngest of three children, loved his job, she said.

``We're aware that an investigation into the accident has been done."

Mrs Leadbitter said her son had played football with Norths until a knee injury curtailed his activities.

Building workers will meet again today at 8am to decide whether to return to work on the RPA construction site.

``It is hard to imagine what he must have gone through," Mr Murphy said.


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