Worker hurt in 40ft lift plunge

Oct 4 2007 By Mark Cowan, Birmingham Mail

AN electrician suffered major injuries after falling more than 40ft as he worked in the lift shaft of a Midland clothing store.

The 23-year-old plunged through two plasterboard ceilings before becoming lodged between electric cables and a ventilation shaft.

It happened at Primark stores, in Evesham Walk, Redditch, shortly before 3pm yesterday.

Firefighters dismantled a wall in order to make it easier to access the casualty and medical technician Dave Hope squeezed between two ventilation shafts to reach the patient from below.

Paramedic Paul Reeves said: "We were then able to raise him up to a level surface with the help of the firefighters and immobilise him using a neck collar and spinal board ready to transfer him to hospital.

"I administered pain relief on scene. The man had suffered a serious back injury, laceration and possibly a serious head injury.

"We then alerted the Alexandra Hospital. Our patient was conscious throughout, but he has some serious injuries."