Crews rescue man after road melts

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/manchester/8080462.stm

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A 19-year-old man had to be rescued after his lower leg became stuck in melted tar on a road outside his house in Greater Manchester.

Graham Merrington's foot and shin disappeared down the hole as he tried to cross Angleside Avenue in Burnage.

Firefighters cut away the road surface, believed to have melted in the hot weather, to free him on Tuesday night.

He said: "I was in a bit of shock. You don't expect to be walking down a road and disappear down a hole."

Mr Merrington, a catering assistant, was stuck in the hole for more than 40 minutes while the firefighters worked to free his leg.

The road was cordoned off while police, ambulance and fire crews helped him.

He said: "I was taken to hospital for checks after they managed to free me.

"I have badly injured my ankle, torn my ligaments.

The road surface collapsed under the 19-year-old's foot

"I'm really upset about it. I'm a keen footballer and now I won't be able to run for the next six weeks."

His father, Wilfred, said there had been many problems with the road in the past, which has been repaired several times.

He said: "It's a disgrace, we need something done - they can't just keep on patching it up.

"I couldn't believe it when I saw my son with one leg in the hole, I did tell him he was pretty stupid though."

Graham Merrington added: "I will be complaining to the council - this road desperately needs sorting or this kind of thing will happen again, it's not safe."

A Manchester City Council spokeswoman said: "Further investigation is taking place and we wish Mr Merrington a speedy recovery."