Paisley hospital worker falls

A WORKMAN had to be rescued by firefighters yesterday after plunging to the bottom of a 30ft deep water tank and suffering head injuries.

The 52-year-old victim was standing on ladders as he painted the inside of the disused steel tank in a boilerhouse within the grounds of the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley when he lost his balance and fell head first.

He hit his head on a metal pipe as he plunged downwards, leaving blood pouring from a deep wound.

A colleague who was working alongside him in the water tank tried desperately to stop the bleeding before raising the alarm.

When firefighters arrived at the scene, they put a special harness on the dazed and shocked man so they could haul him out of the tank.

One source said: “It was a nasty accident. It’s not yet clear exactly how this guy managed to fall off the ladders but he took quite a tumble.

“Before he landed at the bottom of the water tank, his head battered a piece of piping and that caused a deep gash. His workmate tried to help him, despite the fact he must have been badly shaken himself by what happened.

“The victim was left dazed and groggy and he was in a state of shock, so the firefighters had to rescue him.”

It’s understood that medics who were called to the scene managed to climb inside the tank to assess the full extent of the man’s injuries.

The source added: “Once the medics had checked the man’s condition, a firefighter was able to climb into the tank and fit a harness round his body.

“With the harness there to provide extra support, the man was able to climb up a ladder to safety.

“Once he was out, an ambulance took him to the nearby Accident and Emergency Unit for treatment.

“Although he suffered a nasty head wound, he can consider himself a lucky man because his injuries could have been so much worse.”

Last night, a police spokesman said: “Our inquiries into this matter are continuing.”

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