Royals Rome tower collapse miracle as trapped worker pulled from rubble after HOURS A worker has been rescued from the rubble hours after a medieval tower collapsed in Rome — he was performing renovation work on the Torre dei Conti at the time of the incident The man was performing renovation work on the Torre dei Conti when it collapsed ( Image: AFP via Getty Images) By comments A worker was miraculously rescued after being trapped for hours under the rubble of a medieval tower in Rome today. The man was performing renovation work on the Torre dei Conti, near the Colosseum, when it partially collapsed, leaving him trapped. Local television showed three rescuers placing him onto a telescopic aerial ladder before descending and wheeling him on a stretcher into an ambulance. His condition was not immediately clear, but Adriano De Acutis, chief commander of Rome's firefighters, told state TV channel RAI that he was conscious. "Since the conditions seem serious, they will now evaluate him and he was immediately taken to the hospital," Lamberto Giannini, prefect of Rome, later told reporters. "The operation lasted a long time because every time a part of the body was freed there was additional rubble that covered it." Firefighters were engulfed by debris while rescuing a construction worker after a second collapse ( Image: AP) Rescuers first tried to reach the worker through a first-floor window but had to retreat when another part of the structure crumbled, sending a cloud of debris into the air. A second attempt using two ladders was also abandoned, and a drone was later deployed. Firefighters were eventually lifted by a crane, from where they used large tubes to suck rubble out of the second-floor window, working late into the night. The first collapse struck the central buttress of the building's southern side, while the second damaged part of the stairwell and the roof, cultural heritage officials said. Rome Mayor Roberto Gualtieri said the worker had been speaking to rescuers and using an oxygen mask. He described the operation as "very delicate" since workers had to be especially careful to avoid further collapses. Firefighters pull a construction worker from under the debris ( Image: AP) Three other workers were rescued unharmed after the initial incident at midday, according to the fire service spokesperson Luca Cari. Another worker, aged 64, was taken to hospital in critical condition. RAI reported he was conscious and had suffered a broken nose. No firefighters were injured during the rescue operation. The Torre dei Conti, which has been closed since 2007, was built in the 13th century by Pope Innocent III as a residence for his family. It was damaged in a 1349 earthquake and suffered further collapses in the 17th century. The tower is undergoing a £6million restoration, including conservations work, installation of electrical, lighting and water systems and a new museum display covering the latest phases of the Roman Imperial Forum, officials said. Three workers inside were evacuated, with one taken to hospital in critical condition ( Image: AFP via Getty Images) Before the latest phase began in June, structural surveys and load tests were carried out to assess the building's stability, which officials said "confirmed the safety conditions necessary" to proceed with the work, including asbestos removal. The current work, costing £350,000, was nearly complete. Italian prosecutors attended the scene during the rescue, investigating possible charges for negligent disaster and negligent injuries, Italian media reported. Firefighters rushed to the scene with three emergency teams and two ladder trucks ( Image: Anadolu via Getty Images) German student Viktoria Braeu, 18, had just finished a tour at the nearby Colosseum and witnessed firefighters' initial rescue attempt. "And then we were like, 'It's probably not long until it's going to go down,' and then it just started erupting," he told The Associated Press. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni had earlier expressed her hope that the worker would be rescued. "My thoughts and deepest sympathies go out to the person currently fighting for his life under the rubble and to his family, for whom I sincerely hope that this tragedy will have a positive outcome," Meloni said. "I would like to thank all the law enforcement officers, firefighters, and rescue workers who are intervening with courage, professionalism, and dedication in this extremely difficult situation." Top Stories Source: https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/breaking-rome-tower-collapse-miracle-36185290