UK Rescuers Save Man Impaled in Horrific Fall

A construction worker was impaled after falling on metal rods in an horrific accident on a building site in the centre of Birmingham.

Firefighters had to use hand-held saws to free the man, aged 47, before he was taken to Selly Oak Hospital with part of the sawn-off rod still inside his body.

He was heavily sedated but conscious throughout the rescue.

West Midlands Fire Service crew commander Steve Harris said the metal spike had entered the man's left leg, going right up through his body and coming out by his right shoulder.

"Despite his ordeal, the man was conscious and had a lot of support from his colleagues and paramedics," he said.

The accident happened yesterday afternoon on the third floor of a construction site at the junction of Church Street and Cornwall Street opposite the PriceWaterhouseCoopers building.

Police officers closed roads around Great Charles Queensway after the accident, just before 5pm, to allow the air ambulance to land. But after paramedics worked on the man, he was taken to hospital by ambulance.

West Midlands Fire Service spokesman Mark Lawton said: "The man was impaled on metal rods in his stomach and chest cavity. A doctor and paramedics were at the scene giving first aid.

"Fire service personnel were able to cut through the reinforcing bars under the direction of the doctor before the man was taken to hospital."

The rescue operation took just under an hour.

Mr Lawton added: "The scene of the accident has been preserved pending a possible investigation."

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: "We sent crews with a doctor on board and it took 30 minutes to release him."