Firefighters save man stuck in five metre deep hole with leg trapped under equipment

Two men were saved from a five metre deep hole, with one of them trapped under equipment, at house under renovation yesterday.

Six fire engines and around 40 firefighters were called to an incident in the garden of a semi-detached house in Gilston Road, Chelsea.

Firefighters rescued a man from the hole who had his leg trapped by equipment. He was treated on scene by London Ambulance Service crews.

Another man was rescued with a ladder and a further 12 people were led to safety from the site.

London Fire Brigade (LFB) Station Commander Stephen Irvine, who was at the scene, said: “This was a complex incident and crews worked incredibly hard using specialist equipment to safely rescue the man. Thankfully, he was okay.

“One of the Brigade’s 32-metre turntable ladders was used to lower air bags to stabilise the hole so that crews could gain safe access and then lift the man to safety.

“Properties either side were evacuated as a precaution and surrounding roads were closed whilst crews made the scene safe.”

A spokeswoman for the LFB said: “The Brigade was called at 1.17pm and the incident was over for firefighters by 5.30pm.

“Fire crews from Chelsea, Kensington, Battersea and surrounding fire stations attended the scene.”

Pictured top: Firefighters at the scene in Gilston Road, Chelsea (Picture: LFB)