Bell accident

A 14-year-old boy pulling down on a church bell rope held on too long and found himself catapulted into a loft cavity where he became trapped.

Fire and rescue crews were alerted by paramedics called to St John's Church in Loughton, Essex, on Tuesday evening and the youth was safely brought down.

A firefighter said: "The youth held on too long and ended up in the tower. On the way up he let go and fell onto a loft space platform and suffered thigh, ankle and wrist injuries."

Paramedics and fire crews had difficulty getting up to the loft. The firefighter said: "The only way in and out of the tower was via a tight spiral staircase so we couldn't use the aerial ladder platform.

"We strapped the boy to a rescue stretcher - similar to those used in climbing incidents - and lowered him down slowly, step by step."

A crew secured a line to the stretcher to make sure he was safe on the way down and another team was at the bottom of the staircase to ensure the safety of the rescuers.
The teenager was taken to hospital by ambulance but there is no information on his condition.