Crews rescue suspended worker from Palm Avenue construction site

Sarasota emergency personnel rescued a construction worker trapped more than 10 stories above the street after scaffolding on the side of a high-rise building malfunctioned.

Sarasota County Emergency Services responded to a call regarding the suspended worker at 10:35 a.m. The worker was part of the construction crew for 624 Palm, an 18-story condominium project at 624 S. Palm Ave.

Crews used safety lines to lower the worker from his precarious position on the side of the building. Sarasota County Fire Chief Mike Reginer said there were no injuries, though the 49-year-old male worker was transported to the hospital for further evaluation.

Reginer said a mechanical failure caused the incident. The motor on the scaffolding would not disengage, causing one side of the apparatus to continue rising while the other remained stationary. The worker was in a safety harness at the time of the scaffolding failure and not in danger of injury, Reginer said.

Portions of Palm Avenue and Gulfstream Avenue were closed for several hours during the incident, but were reopened as of 12:30 p.m., the Sarasota Police Department said.

During construction, neighbors have voiced concerns about the safety conditions at 624 Palm, formerly known as Echelon on Palm. Last month, residents went before the City Commission and shared images of debris that fell from the high-rise.