A builder had a lucky escape after a concrete floor collapsed leaving him bleeding and unconscious.
Ian Wilson, 57, of Meltham, was demolishing the floor when part of it suddenly gave way.
Ian crashed 7ft into the cellar below and a huge concrete slab landed on top of him, leaving him pinned down and gasping for breath.
His brother Andrew, 44, who was working with him, desperately tried to free him before rushing for help.
Four builders working on another building across the road helped lift the 6ft by 4ft slab and administered first aid, keeping Ian still until emergency crews arrived.
The accident happened at the former Mister Lister Hair Studio in Town Hall Street, Mirfield, at 3.30pm yesterday.
Ian and Andrew, who trade as Wilson Brothers Construction in Meltham, had been working on the refurbishment for almost a week.
Ian regained consciousness at the scene and the air ambulance was called. There was no helicopter available and he was taken to Leeds General Infirmary by road.
Andrew told how the brothers were removing the floor when it collapsed.
“It was just an accident,” said Andrew. “Ian has fallen 7ft and the slab landed on top of him. It took three of us to lift it.
“I couldn’t shift it and ran across the road like a mad man calling for help.
“The other builders came running and I can’t thank them enough. Ian has been very, very lucky.”
Workmates from Dalton-based Craig Miller Joinery & Building Solutions Ltd, working on the former Blockbusters store in Knowl Road, came to the rescue.
Jason Boothroyd, 42, of Newsome, Iain Kirkwood, also 42, of Kirkheaton, Joe Craven, 19, of Golcar, and Wayne Sanderson, 34, of Huddersfield, lifted the weight off Ian and waited with him until ambulance crews arrived.
It was thought Ian would be airlifted to hospital but the air ambulance was elsewhere.
Jason said: “We jumped down into the shop and the lad was unconscious, his head was crooked and he was bleeding.
“We lifted the slab and put him in the recovery position. His breathing wasn’t good and he was wheezing.”
Jason said they physically held Ian down even after he regained consciousness to prevent him from moving.
“We are trained first aiders,” he said.
The builders also ran across Huddersfield Road to Mirfield Fire Station. The station is part-time but fortunately firefighters were there.
Crews from Mirfield and Dewsbury attended along with the technical rescue vehicle from Cleckheaton.
Crew commander Mick Loney, from Dewsbury Fire Station, praised the builders and said: “They did all the hard work. We just stood by to assist putting the man on a long board and helping the ambulance service.
“He’s been very lucky there were people there to help.”
Click here to take you back to more Huddersfield news .
Want to read, watch and hear more? You can download the FREE Examiner Apple App here , the FREE Examiner Android App here or you can view the paper as an e-edition on your Apple, Android or Kindle device by clicking here
To follow us on Twitter click here
