Heroes with Heart.

On or around 6 August, our Tower Crane team was dismantling a large Terex Tower Crane at a project in Ellerslie, Auckland.

Led by Tower Crane Operations Manager Gilbert Fraser, the team included Kayden Bourke, Scott Carlaw, Jury Pahau, Edmond Navarro, Mason Laurenson-Peters, Albert Durham and Tipene Pukeroa.

As the team prepared to lift a boom section using our 400-tonne mobile crane, Gilbert, working at the top of the tower, suddenly experienced severe back pain.

The team soon discovered Gilbert was suffering a major heart attack and dissected aorta.

The crew immediately recognised something was seriously wrong and called for medical assistance. While emergency services were contacted, they safely managed the crane operation, reconnected the boom section to the tower crane and released the mobile crane so a personnel cage could be prepared to recover Gilbert.

Despite the challenging operation, the crew remained calm, focused and worked together to safely secure Gilbert in the cage and lower him to the ground.

He was transported to a medical centre in the back of a ute, where he was assessed and treated while an ambulance was on its way. He was then transferred by ambulance for further emergency treatment.

Gilbert has since undergone major surgery and remains in Hospital recovering.

We are incredibly proud of our team. Their quick thinking, training, procedures and emergency plans played a critical role in getting Gilbert the help he needed when every second counted.

Gilbert still has a long road to recovery and is likely to remain in hospital for some time.

Throughout this difficult time, the generosity of our staff and others who wanted to help has been incredible. Together, our staff have raised more than $10,000, which Smith Crane and Construction has matched dollar-for-dollar, bringing the total to more than $20,000 to support Gilbert and his whānau.

We also thank our client, Simplicity Living, for their understanding, compassion and support, which allowed our team to focus on Gilbert and our people.

To everyone who has donated, supported Gilbert or helped in any way - thank you.

This is what it means to be part of the Silver Family.