Metro

Worker killed in B’klyn building collapse horror

Two floors of a Brooklyn condo development collapsed as workers were pouring concrete yesterday, trapping five hardhats under tons of rubble, killing one of them, authorities said.

The deadly Brighton Beach accident came three days after someone complained of illegal after-hours construction at the site.

“I started hearing guys yelling, ‘Help! Help me! I’m trapped!’ ” said concrete worker Robert Appropato, of Stillwell Ready Mix, who was pouring concrete at 2929 Brighton Fifth St. at around 2:30 p.m. when the floors suddenly buckled.

“I was trembling when I see this building come down. I jumped off my truck. I would say there were a good dozen people working in the building at a time,” he said.

FDNY Chief Michael Marrone said, “They were pouring concrete, and it looks like the weight of the concrete caused the third floor to collapse into the second.”

Rescue crews responded in minutes and dug out four trapped workers who were screaming for help.

A fifth rescued worker was rushed to Coney Island Hospital in critical condition. He later died, fire officials said.

The other four men were listed as stable at Lutheran Hospital.

On Saturday, a tipster called the city Buildings Department to report there was illegal after-hours work at the site.

Neighbors said they were long concerned by construction at the site.

“We walked by every day. It didn’t look stable to me,” resident Tina Harshfield said.

Additional reporting by Rebecca Harshbarger

A construction worker grimaces in pain after he was rescued from a building collapse in Brighton beach yesterday.

A construction worker grimaces in pain after he was rescued from a building collapse in Brighton beach yesterday. (Paul Martinka)

CRUSHED: A construction worker grimaces in pain after he was rescued from a building collapse in Brighton Beach yesterday. (Paul Martinka/ photographer)

CRUSHED: A construction worker grimaces in pain after he was rescued from a building collapse in Brighton Beach yesterday. (Paul Martinka/ photographer)