As reported on CTV News, the family of an Ottawa construction worker, hit by a falling fire extinguisher in an elevator shaft, is asking for the public’s help.

28-year-old Daniel Sametz, who was working on a 27-storey construction site near Metcalfe and Gloucester street, is recovering in hospital after nearly dying in Wednesday’s incident. Investigators are trying to figure out how the fire extinguisher fell on Sametz; resulting in head trauma, including a brain bleed. Sametz had been working on the job site for at least three weeks, according to family members, but does not remember what happened.

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Sametz suffered a dislocated left shoulder, broken collarbone, 2 broken ribs, a punctured lung and spinal fractures.

“He’s in pretty bad shape,” said his sister Saprha Oliver outside the Ottawa Hospital. “If it had been a few centimetres over it wouldve hit him in the head.”

The Ministry of Labour is leading the investigation into the incident, and Ottawa Police have confirmed a criminal investigation is underway. Michael Edelson, a lawyer representing Claridge Homes told CTV News it appears to be a deliberate act and foul play is suspected.

Ottawa paramedics and Firefighters recovered Sametz from the elevator shaft, before rushing him to hospital; that’s when his family was notified of the incident.

Watch the news video and keep reading on CTV News