Man 'could have been killed' by falling masonry

A man who suffered a collapsed lung, knee injury and seven broken ribs after he was hit by rubble falling from a building has been left unable to work due to his injuries.

Leandro Varela Dominguez, 43, was walking along West Street in St Philip's, Bristol, on 12 March when render fell on him from the building housing Andrew's Gentleman Hairdresser.

Varela Dominguez spent three days in Southmead Hospital after the incident and is still in acute pain due to his injuries.

In their notes, paramedics remarked: "Leandro suffered a very lucky escape. He could easily have been killed." The building's owner has not responded to repeated requests for comment.

Since then, Varela Dominguez has been unable to work in his job as a waiter at St Nicholas Market, and is now applying for universal credit to cover his rent.

He told BBC Bristol: "When the render from the building fell on me, at that moment I couldn't breathe."

While he suffered no major external injuries, ambulance staff were concerned about his plunging heart rate and blood saturation levels, and he was taken to hospital.

In addition to the collapsed lung, Varela Dominguez was found to have a haemothorax, or blood around the lung, and bruising to his lungs.

Scaffolding has been erected around the building and work is being carried out on the façade, but so far, Varela Dominguez has not heard from the building's owners.

While Avon and Somerset Police were called to the scene, the force said there was no criminal element to the incident it was investigating.

Originally from Spain, Varela Dominguez has lived in the UK for the past 10 years and is unable to return to his native country to recuperate due to his injuries.

"My mobility is very limited, and I spend most of my time at home, isolated and struggling to cope.

"I feel abandoned, with little information about what happened or what will happen next," he added.

Varela Dominguez said he was also suffering from anxiety.

"I am terrified to go outside, especially when it is windy, because I fear something else might fall on me."

He added: "I suffer from severe back and neck pain, dizziness that makes me feel I might faint every time I bend my head.

"I cannot lift anything without pain," he said.

Doctors estimate it could be two months before Varela Dominguez can work again.

Bristol City Council declined to comment on the incident, but its building control team were notified and immediately visited the site.

As the owner is already undertaking work, it said no further intervention is required at this time under building regulations.

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