Falling 8ft spike pierces man's head and eye
A CONSTRUCTION worker whose head and eye were impaled on an eight-foot-long spike is recovering after surgery at Bradford Royal Infirmary.
The man was working at the Argos store in Forster Square, Bradford, when the steel rod, which was being used as a temporary roof support, fell from the ceiling, plunging six inches into his head.
Fire assistant divisional officer Keith Robinson said the man was still conscious when they arrived at 3.20am yesterday. Several of his colleagues were supporting the steel rod as he lay on the floor.
Mr Robinson said: "It was one of the strangest things I have ever seen in all the years I have been in the fire service. We are trained to deal with road traffic accidents but this was really out of the blue.
"He was talking to us and didn't complain at all which was amazing considering what he was going through. His behaviour was immense."
Fire officers first clamped the pole, which was about a quarter of an inch wide, to prevent vibrations injuring the victim further.
After a test cut through a similar pole, they cut the spike short with bolt-cutters, leaving about two feet sticking out of the man's eye, and helped paramedics carry him to an ambulance.
Mr Robinson said: "It was very difficult to get him out because we didn't know what the pole was touching, it could have been against an artery. If we had pulled it or twisted it at all we could have killed the guy."
Doctors at Bradford Royal Infirmary X-rayed the victim before calling the fire brigade back at 8.30am to cut the spike down under the supervision of the surgeon, so only six inches was protruding.
At 9am the operation began to remove the rest of the spike. A hospital spokeswoman said the patient, believed to be in his 30s and from Oldham, was conscious, capable of conversation and "comfortable" by 3pm.
The Health and Safety Executive is investigating.
Catalogue retail company Argos issued a statement saying the man was a contractor working with construction company Styles and Wood on a new mezzanine floor to be used for stock.
It said: "Argos regrets that this incident has occurred and our thoughts are with the person affected.
"Argos is co-operating fully with Styles and Wood and the Health and Safety Executive during the course of their investigation."
Styles and Wood is a Manchester-based design and construction company specialising in retail premises, and has worked on projects for Barclays Bank, Debenhams, Homebase, Safeways and many others.
A spokeswoman said: "This was an unfortunate accident and our immediate attention is with the individual and his family. We are conducting a thorough investigation."
