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Worker hurt in fall from Great Yarmouth church tower | Worker hurt in fall from Great Yarmouth church tower |
(about 2 hours later) | |
A scaffolder had to be brought down a Norfolk church tower on a stretcher after he suffered three broken ribs in a fall. | |
Michael Sheldrake, 26, was working at St Nicholas Minster in Great Yarmouth when he lost his footing. | |
Norfolk Fire Service said he fell 15ft (5m) from scaffolding on to a flat roof on the tower while working about 100ft (30m) up. | |
A specialist rescue team abseiled Mr Sheldrake down on a stretcher. | |
The area was cordoned off for several hours as paramedics climbed up scaffolding to treat him before the specialist team arrived. | The area was cordoned off for several hours as paramedics climbed up scaffolding to treat him before the specialist team arrived. |
His father, Dave Sheldrake, who owns the scaffolding business, claimed his son fell a much shorter distance and his injuries were not as serious as initially feared. | |
'Amazing job' | |
"He fell 6ft (1.8m) and landed face-down on beams," said Mr Sheldrake, who did not wish to give the name of his business. | |
"He's got three broken ribs, he's fine and should be coming home today or tomorrow. | |
"I'd like to thank the emergency services, they did an amazing job." | |
He added his son, a qualified scaffolder, had been wearing a safety harness but the equipment only deploys at 15ft (5m). | |
Phil Berry, from Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service, said: "The man was injured in the fall and we worked with police and ambulance colleagues to bring him down safely." | Phil Berry, from Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service, said: "The man was injured in the fall and we worked with police and ambulance colleagues to bring him down safely." |
Mr Sheldrake was treated by paramedics who climbed scaffolding around the tower after a safety assessment was made. | |
'Chest injuries' | |
The Reverend Andrew Avery, from the minster, said the accident happened as they were finishing morning prayer. | The Reverend Andrew Avery, from the minster, said the accident happened as they were finishing morning prayer. |
"When we came out the fire service were already here," he said. | "When we came out the fire service were already here," he said. |
"I believe the man fell from the scaffolding around the spire into the tower which has a flat roof. | "I believe the man fell from the scaffolding around the spire into the tower which has a flat roof. |
"He suffered chest injuries which are significant. | |
"We have prayed that he will make a swift recovery." | "We have prayed that he will make a swift recovery." |
The East of England Ambulance Service said it was called to Yarmouth Minster at 09:25 BST and the patient taken to James Paget Hospital in Gorleston. | |
A spokeswoman said: "This was a very complicated operation due to the difficult location." |