A painter yesterday narrowly escaped injury as the crane which was holding the bucket from which he was painting the façade of a house tilted forward in Clares Street, St Julian’s.

A mobile squad vehicle which was on patrol was despatched to the site of the accident.

The Malta Independent learnt that the painter had drawn out the extendable arm in order to reach the upper limits of the two-storey façade, which he had been painting.

All of a sudden, the crane moved forward on its front wheels while the terrified man held fast to the bucket which hit the ground after breaking an electricity light post protruding from the façade.

The bucket came to rest on the pavement, which due to the high gradient of the street is stepped.

The crane itself came to rest on the bucket, the cabin and one of its supporting legs, which stuck to the façade of the neighbour.

The neighbour, speaking to The Malta Independent, said he had the fright of his life as he was resting in bed and all of a sudden he felt the house shake and heard a big noise coming from the sitting room.

There he found some bricks which had been dislodged out of the wall.