Photos by David Ritchie

High winds set off a domino effect collapsing six houses under construction in Markham Ontario Canada (north of Toronto) on Friday afternoon.

A 43 year old man was trying to leave the second house in the series on Weatherill Road as winds began to shake the structures. The building gave way, trapping the man's legs between the collapsed structure and a metal beam lying on the floor.

The wind started one house moving and then it knocked the other over, quoted the builder. A firebreak (an empty lot) after the six detached houses kept the domino effect from speading.

Markham Firefighters used hydraulic rams to lift the wreckage and free the worker. He was taken to Markham Stouffville Hospital with leg injuries.

The rescue took approx. 40 minutes to complete. One pumper, one heavy rescue, an aerial and platoon chief were called to the scene.