The investigation continues into the collapse of a wall on April 2 which nearly killed a construction worker.

And though the worker himself is out of hospital, it will be a ?long process? before he is fully healed.

The unnamed man saw the wall on Vesey Street, Devonshire collapsing below another construction worker operating a Bobcat excavator close to ledge.

He attempted to place the boom of his backhoe against the Bobcat, but his efforts failed to stop the wall from collapsing ? trapping him inside his machine for 17 minutes beneath a pile of a mound of rubble and concrete.

He was taken to the hospital with head and chest injuries. Bean?s Excavating boss Troy Bean said yesterday his worker left the hospital after six days.

?He suffered a cracked vertebrae in two places,? he said. ?He also had a punctured lung, and gashes to his head. He?s got a lot of pain in his chest and back, he will probably be off for some time. But he?s walking around now, thank God for that.?

Admitting he had feared for his worker?s life, Mr. Bean added: ?Thank God he?s alive?.

Government Health and Safety officer Harry Powell said yesterday that his office was still investigating the incident, along with the Planning Department.

?We ordered the contractor to hire the services of a professional engineer to oversee the excavation of the overburden of the wall,? he said. ?Basically they will rake it down to the foundation so they can determine where they are building and ensure a proper foundation goes down. It?s going to take a while, they need to re-determine the rebuilding so that it is safe and without risk. ?We?re on top of it.?