Firefighters worked quickly to carry out a tricky and challenging rescue after a man trapped his arm in a skip lorry mechanism parked at an industrial unit.
Firefighters used a range of equipment, including hydraulic spreaders, which were spread open in order to create space so the man’s arm could be easily freed. The crews worked alongside colleagues from London’s Air Ambulance and the man was taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
Watch Manager Steve Howlett, who was at the scene, said: “This was a complex rescue and the crews worked really swiftly and efficiently to help free the man. Crews used a range of equipment from the Fire Rescue Unit, which attended the scene. The weight of the skip lorry had to be lifted so the man’s arm could be released.
“The operation was a great example of partnership working with our colleagues at London’s Air Ambulance. Once the man was released, London Ambulance Service took him to hospital.”
The Brigade’s Fire Rescue Units provide specialist capabilities to respond to complex and protracted incidents. They provide a core set of specialist skills including difficult access and heavy cutting capabilities.
The Brigade was called at 0731 and the incident was over by 0816. Fire crews from Islington and Shoreditch were at the scene.