A construction worker has died following a devastating workplace accident at a construction site in Silver Lakes, Pretoria East, yesterday (June 10).

Emergency services were called to the scene shortly before 14:00 after reports that a side-tipper truck had allegedly driven over a worker’s leg, reports Pretoria Rekord.

According to Casper Visser, the spokesperson and CEO of the Volunteer Emergency Medical Response Unit (Vemru), the patient sustained serious injuries to the leg and pelvis and was found in a critical condition when emergency responders arrived.

Due to the severity of his injuries, a decision was made to airlift the patient to a specialist trauma hospital in Johannesburg for advanced medical treatment.

Paramedics from several emergency services worked together to stabilise the patient while awaiting the arrival of an aeromedical helicopter.

However, as the helicopter arrived on scene, the patient’s condition deteriorated and he went into cardiac arrest.

“Advanced cardiac life-support resuscitation was immediately initiated,” Visser said.

He added that despite extensive efforts by emergency personnel, who continued resuscitation attempts for nearly an hour, the patient could not be revived and was declared dead at the scene.

According to Visser, the scene was handed over to police and circumstances surrounding the incident remain under investigation.

Emergency services involved in the response included Netcare 911, Emer-G-Med and Black Eagle EMS.