Three days after a serious accident that injured his 10-year-old child, a father denounces the lack of safety and negligence surrounding heavy machinery left on a construction site in a municipal park in Sainte-Foy.
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• Read also: A child injured by excavation equipment left in Notre-Dame-de-Foy Park
“If they had done something before, we wouldn’t be here. It’s anything to look like you’ve acted, ”says Riadh Ferjani, looking at the new arrangement of a bucket, a heavy shovel-shaped piece, as well as the temporary fences added after the tragedy.
On Sunday, his son was accidentally crushed on the baseball field being repaired in Notre-Dame-de-Foy park.
Construction equipment, including a mechanical shovel, was stored there, but not used for the weekend. Everything indicates that the child was having fun with his classmates when the heavy object swung against him.
In extremis
The young boy may have had his life saved thanks to the intervention of a good Samaritan, Cédric Durand, who lifted the bucket with all his might. The child in respiratory distress was a prisoner below.
“If it wasn’t for him, I wouldn’t have my child anymore. I have no words to express my gratitude. »
According to the father, the site was completely open, with several easy accesses everywhere. His son’s state of health, which is recovering well, has enabled him to keep his emotions under control.
“If my son had died because an asshole didn’t do his job, I could have freaked out, but he’s been miraculous. There was no security. The material was not secure and there was no notice. What more do you want to get in trouble? Everyone could play. It was like a swing,” adds Mr. Ferjani.
Measurements
In a written response, the City of Quebec says that the park supervisor had repeatedly asked the group of children not to approach the construction site. “There was no supervisor. They were playing and no adult said anything to them,” he retorts after hearing his son’s version.
The City of Quebec “is sorry” for the unfortunate accident that occurred at Notre-Dame-de-Foy park.
“It is good practice in the construction industry to leave heavy equipment on the job site on days off. In order to prevent an accident from happening again, the City asked the contractor to add fences to block access to the baseball field,” a spokesperson replied in writing.
“They don’t want a lawsuit, but they’re going to get one. I need the help of a lawyer”, concludes Mr. Ferjani, who wishes to expand his file to present it to the court.