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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Tangled bellringer hurts shoulder | Tangled bellringer hurts shoulder |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| A church bellringer in Oxfordshire suffered a broken collar bone when he became tangled in the bell rope. | A church bellringer in Oxfordshire suffered a broken collar bone when he became tangled in the bell rope. |
| Dr Tony Merry was lifted up by the rope which caught on his trousers before he fell about 3ft (0.9m) at St Mary's Church, Charlbury, on Wednesday. | |
| But because he was in a cramped tower high in the building firefighters had to use a pulley system and lower him on a stretcher through a trap door. | But because he was in a cramped tower high in the building firefighters had to use a pulley system and lower him on a stretcher through a trap door. |
| He was taken to hospital before being later released. | He was taken to hospital before being later released. |
| 'Very competent' | 'Very competent' |
| The 58-year-old, who has been bell ringing for more than three years, told the BBC News website: "I don't remember much, but the rope got caught on my trousers and up I went. | The 58-year-old, who has been bell ringing for more than three years, told the BBC News website: "I don't remember much, but the rope got caught on my trousers and up I went. |
| "I had to let go or it could have been worse. | "I had to let go or it could have been worse. |
| "I was knocked unconscious but the people who saw it happen said I fell about 3ft onto my shoulder. | "I was knocked unconscious but the people who saw it happen said I fell about 3ft onto my shoulder. |
| As soon as my collar bone heals I'll be straight back doing it again Dr Tony Merry | As soon as my collar bone heals I'll be straight back doing it again Dr Tony Merry |
| "Apparently when the paramedics arrived my blood pressure was dropping and there was a lot of concern." | "Apparently when the paramedics arrived my blood pressure was dropping and there was a lot of concern." |
| Church warden and master ringer Mike Summers saw the accident. | Church warden and master ringer Mike Summers saw the accident. |
| He said: "We were having a normal practice and I was standing by him at the time. | He said: "We were having a normal practice and I was standing by him at the time. |
| "He is very competent, it wasn't his fault, the rope just caught him and tripped him up lifting him off the ground and he fell heavily. | "He is very competent, it wasn't his fault, the rope just caught him and tripped him up lifting him off the ground and he fell heavily. |
| "You have to be vigilant when bellringing because accidents can happen." | "You have to be vigilant when bellringing because accidents can happen." |
| Firefighters and paramedics were called as Dr Merry could not be moved for fear of further injuries. | Firefighters and paramedics were called as Dr Merry could not be moved for fear of further injuries. |
| Incident commander Bob Swanton said: "I went up to have a look and spoke to the paramedics but we could see the difficulties in getting the man down. | Incident commander Bob Swanton said: "I went up to have a look and spoke to the paramedics but we could see the difficulties in getting the man down. |
| 'Bizarre accident' | 'Bizarre accident' |
| "We couldn't go upwards to use our aerial platform, there was no side windows so the only way was through the trap door. | "We couldn't go upwards to use our aerial platform, there was no side windows so the only way was through the trap door. |
| "He was secured in a special stretcher which is first lowered vertically and then horizontally using a pulley system. | "He was secured in a special stretcher which is first lowered vertically and then horizontally using a pulley system. |
| "It was very lucky he fitted through, as we lowered him there was only an 18-inch gap to squeeze past. | "It was very lucky he fitted through, as we lowered him there was only an 18-inch gap to squeeze past. |
| "The crews worked in cramped conditions which made access to the trap door difficult but finally they were able to lower the man to the church floor." | "The crews worked in cramped conditions which made access to the trap door difficult but finally they were able to lower the man to the church floor." |
| But the incident has not put Dr Merry off bell ringing in the future. | But the incident has not put Dr Merry off bell ringing in the future. |
| "As soon as my collar bone heals I'll be straight back doing it again," he added. | "As soon as my collar bone heals I'll be straight back doing it again," he added. |
| "It was a bizarre accident and I've never heard of anything like it but I'm hoping it won't be repeated." | "It was a bizarre accident and I've never heard of anything like it but I'm hoping it won't be repeated." |