Traumatised colleagues of a Qantas employee who was left comatose after plunging five metres through a hole in an aerobridge have shared new details about the horror fall – and sent a powerful message to online trolls.
Emergency services were called to Sydney Airport at about 1pm on Saturday following reports the female worker in her 40s had fallen onto the tarmac.
Paramedics treated her for critical head and internal injuries before she was rushed to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in an induced coma.
Now Qantas employees have come forward online to describe how the incident allegedly occurred, amid a wave of speculation online.
‘So many unnecessary and uniformed comments as to the true facts that let to this tragic accident today,’ one staff member said.
‘I was on shift when this incident unfolded and had traumatised many Qantas staff,’ she said, adding that the woman had followed all necessary safety procedures.
Pictured is the gaping hole in an aerobridge a Qantas worker is believed to have fallen through
The Qantas employee was rushed to hospital after falling from an aerobridge at Sydney Airport
Another witness purporting to have inside knowledge on the incident and the woman’s subsequent medical treatment said: ‘She was leaning on the side of the aerobridge and it buckled out, separating from the floor. A male colleague tried to grab her to no avail.
‘She was unresponsive for 15 minutes, but was revived in the ambulance and then put into an induced coma. She has head injuries and most likely broken bones.
‘She has bleeding on the brain and was operated on last night.
‘She has a broken collarbone, broken ribs, and probably a broken pelvis. She fell sideways, then backwards, and hit her head. She is not breathing on her own yet. What an absolutely tragedy.’
A parent of a Qantas employee, who she claimed witnessed the incident, defended the woman after a post attracted a series of insensitive comments from trolls.
‘How dare you, my daughter was a co-worker there and she was put into a coma. Think of her family,’ she wrote.
Safework NSW is investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident, while Qantas said their focus was on supporting the injured worker
Meanwhile, associates of the woman have shared messages of support, including one Qantas employee who said she was praying for her.
‘So devastating,’ she added.
A spokesperson for Sydney Airport confirmed a fall had taken place but refused to comment on the images of the hole in the aerobridge.
‘On Saturday, an airline employee fell from an aerobridge in the T3 Domestic Terminal,’ they said.
‘They were attended to by first-aid responders and transferred by ambulance to hospital for further treatment.
‘Aerobridges are subject to frequent inspections and are serviced as part of a scheduled systematic preventative maintenance program.’
Paramedics treated the woman for critical head and internal injuries on the tarmac (pictured)
Sydney Airport confirmed Safe Work NSW was conducting investigations.
‘Our focus is on the welfare of the injured staff member and assisting Safe Work NSW with their enquiries,’ a spokesperson continued.
‘We have also made our Employee Assistance Program available to all precinct workers for counselling and support services.’
Qantas said its focus was supporting the injured team member.
‘Sydney Airport and Qantas will be assisting Safe Work NSW with their investigation,’ a spokesperson said.
A spokesperson for Safework NSW confirmed investigations are ‘ongoing’, adding ‘no further comment can be made at this time’.
