When crane operator Adam Jastrzebski was plucked from the end of a 43-metre-high construction crane by a helicopter crew during Tuesday’s massive fire, it marked the last time the 68-year-old Polish immigrant will ever work on a crane.

“Oh no, I’m retired from that.”

Jastrzebski was speaking to the Whig-Standard in an exclusive interview from his hospital bed at Kingston General Hospital about the harrowing 45 minutes he spent at the end of the 65-metre boom in freezing temperatures while a fire raged below.

Jastrzebski received burns to his back, buttocks and right hand. He was also receiving painkillers to deal with his discomfort.

He said the fire started on the fifth floor of the 144-unit student housing building on the corner of Princess and Victoria streets, but there was lots of smoke. He didn’t think he could climb down through the smoke.

“I was waiting outside (the cab). It was a little fire but so much smoke, so I thought to myself I couldn’t go down because I could get choking and fall down and kill myself,” he said.

With all the wood construction feeding the fire, it soon became a raging inferno.

He was able to turn the crane to face east, away from the flames and heavy smoke. He then shut down the crane.

Jastrzebski, a resident of London, has 46 years experience in working with construction cranes, the first 20 years in his native Poland.

“In one second all around me flames, and people started screaming ‘go to the boom, go to the boom’ and I went right away,” he said.

He walked the length of the boom without a safety harness and then lay down at the very end, waiting for help to arrive.

“So I called 911 and they told me the helicopter is already en route and he said 30 minutes, but they came faster than that,” he recalled.

“I was shaking and frozen on one side, it was a crazy situation.

“After 20 minutes, I heard the helicopter coming.

“The guy came to my place and put the harness on my chest and held it together, picked me up and put me in the helicopter and then we came right to the hospital.”

Jastrzebski said he wasn’t scared during the rescue because he’s not afraid of heights.

“That’s why I work in the tower crane,” he said.

While waiting for the rescue, he said he tried to keep warm by lying on his backpack and pulled his hoodie up over his head.

He said he could hear people yelling encouragement from below.

“I was just waiting up there,” he explained.

He said he didn’t feel much before or during the rescue.

“At that time, I was kind of shocked, so there was not much feeling at all.”

Jastrzebski thanked the firefighters and 8 Wing rescuers for saving him.

“I appreciate everyone caring about me, so that is very kind,” he said.

Jastrzebski has been working at the site for the past few weeks. He’s employed by Canadian Professional Crane Inc. out of Hamilton.

The company provides cranes and crane operators for union and non-union projects.

The company is owned by Aran Malek, who arrived from Hamilton to visit Jastrzebski in the hospital and to inspect the fire site.

Malek’s company didn’t own the crane on the Kingston site. It was owned by the project’s main contractor. Malek said the crane had just been purchased and was on its first job.

“He was in the cab just waiting for the fire to be contained,” said Malek. “When he realized the fire wasn’t going to be contained, he had no time to think to put a harness on. It might take two minutes to put a harness on, but he wanted to save himself so he went on the boom.

“He didn’t have a chance to put on the harness, and the best thing was to walk on the boom with three-point contact and he walked slow and in pain.”

Malek said the Ministry of Labour was concerned that Jastrzebski didn’t put on a safety harness before walking out on the boom.

“Two minutes could be too long or too late,” he said. “So he figured to save himself and wait for help, that’s what he did.

“He went to the safest point because the heat was enormous, so he could not wait in the cab.”

Jastrzebski’s cab was destroyed in the inferno.

“The heat was so enormous. Either jump to his death or walk on the boom — those were the only options he had,” Malek said. “It was a smart move.”

Malek said he had to replace several crane operators after they voiced concerns about safety at the site.

Jastrzebski took up the job at Malek’s request.

“A few of the them have complained about safety and they didn’t want to stay here,” he said, unable to provide further details.

To add to Jastrzebski’s troubles, Malek thinks his rental car was one of the vehicles destroyed by the fire.

Malek is concerned for Jastrzebski and is hoping for a full recovery.

“He’s in pain and I pray that he’s OK and gets better and makes a good Christmas for him.”

Malek praised the Kingston firefighters and rescuers from 8 Wing at Canadian Forces Base Trenton for their work.

“The firefighters and rescuers did a professional job with the way they handled this serious fire,” he said. “They saved lives,. If it wasn’t for them, things could have been a lot worse.”

ian.macalpine@sunmedia.ca

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