Episode 364: On June 17, 1958, a warm summer afternoon in Vancouver, British Columbia, the bustling construction site of the Second Narrows Bridge was alive with activity. Seventy-nine workers, including ironworkers, engineers, and painters, were perched high above the waters of Burrard Inlet, labouring to connect Vancouver to the North Shore. Little did they know that in mere moments, their world would come crashing down in what would become the worst industrial disaster in Vancouver's history. Several bridge spans suddenly collapsed as they attempted to join two chords of the unfinished arch. The disaster sent all the bridge builders on shift plummeting 30 meters into the waters below. Tragically, 18 workers lost their lives instantly or shortly after, possibly due to drowning from their heavy tool belts. The death toll rose to 19 when a diver searching for bodies also drowned in the days following the collapse. Sources: Collapse of the Second Narrows Bridge during Construction | Proceedings | Vol , No 1958 – BC Infrastructure Disaster – Ironworkers Memorial Bridge – Vancouver 1958 Time Traveller: 19 die in 1958 Second Narrows Bridge collapse and ensuing rescue Second Narrows Bridge Collapse Ironworkers Memorial Second Narrows Crossing The Lions Gate Bridge The Lions Gate Bridge - And The Lions Who Guard It Building a Vancouver Icon: The Lions Gate Bridge - Introduction - MONOVA Jun 18, 1958, page 35 - The Province at Newspapers.com Last living survivor of Second Narrows Bridge disaster won't let pandemic stop him from honouring dead | CBC News Check out this historical video report on the 1958 collapse of the Ironworkers Memorial Second Narrows Crossing (VIDEO) Tragedy at Second Narrows: The Story of the Ironworkers Memorial Bridge Time Traveller: 19 die in 1958 Second Narrows Bridge collapse and ensuing rescue This Week in History: 1896: The Point Ellice Bridge collapses in Victoria, killing 55 Looking Back: 126 years since 55 killed in catastrophic Victoria bridge collapse The Point Ellice Bridge Failure The Point Ellice Bridge Disaster Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices