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Worker injured in ceiling collapse at Rockland church

E-mail|Link|Comments () March 11, 2010 06:24 PM

By Stefanie Geisler, Globe Correspondent

A construction worker was seriously injured in a ceiling collapse at a Rockland church late this morning, fire officials said.

The man, whose name was not released, was airlifted to Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center after a ceiling collapsed around 11:30 a.m. at the Holy Family Parish on Union Street, officials said. The man’s condition was not immediately available.

Four construction workers were attempting to repair a ceiling in the lower church when a 20-by-30 foot portion of it fell, Deputy Fire Chief William Ferguson said.

Two people were initially trapped. One escaped and appeared to be in good health, but the other was pinned beneath a double layer of plaster, Ferguson said.

The cause of the collapse is under investigation.

“The ceiling had been bowing, and this was the crew that was going to go and safely take it down,” Ferguson said.

The church is currently undergoing renovations. The lower portion of the church has been closed off, but the upper portion remains open, Ferguson said.