A WORKMAN had the escape of a lifetime after plunging through an abandoned mill's roof.

The contractor, working on demolishing a building at Trojan Plastics in Britannia Road, Milnsbridge, stepped on to a neighbouring building's roof at 12.15pm yesterday - and it gave way.

The man crashed through the 40ft-high apex roof, but miraculously landed on a 6in-wide girder, avoiding lethal masonry and metal rubble 30 feet below.

Shocked colleagues managed to put boards across a 4ft gap to another girder so the man could move to be more comfortable on his impromptu high-rise platform.

Fire and ambulance crews went to the scene.

Firefighters from Slaithwaite using ropes and climbing gear got to the man and, with the help of paramedics, treated his injuries.

A specialist hydraulic lifting platform from Huddersfield retrieved the man.

Watch manager Howard Young, of Slaithwaite fire station, said: "The man had an incredible escape.

"He was 30 feet up. If he had not landed on the girder he would have gone down to the floor below, which was covered with bits of demolished building.

"Without the girder it could have been curtains for him."

Mr Young said it was a nerve-wracking situation.

He added: "Everyone who was up helping the man was secured.

"The paramedic who went up didn't like heights - but he had no choice.

"The injured man was taken to Huddersfield Royal Infirmary.

"He seemed shocked, but not too badly injured," added Mr Young.