Man Rescued From Bell Tower

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31775, 4 September 1968, Page 12

Man Rescued From Bell Tower

An ambulance driver, policeman and carpenter yesterday morning rescued an injured workman who fell 20ft in the Christchurch Cathedral bell tower on to a bell which swung from its position and pinned him between the bell and beam. The injured man, James Ritchie Strachan, of 167 Edgeware Road, St Albans, was admitted to the Princess Margaret Hospital with head, chest and back injuries. His condition last evening was reported to be fairly satisfactory. Mr Strachan and the other carpenter were repairing the wooden louvres in the bell tower, and putting up wire netting to .keep out pigeons. On scaffolding inside the tower, Mr Strachan lost his balance and fell about 20ft on to the bell. The bell swung down trapped Mr Strachan by his clothing as he lay across the beam supporting the bell 20ft above a floor In the tower. His workmate telephoned the police and the St John ambulance at 11 a.m. Mr D. J. Diggs climbed scaffolding outside the tower, then climbed down the scaffolding inside to get to Mr Strachan. In the meantime, a key to a door which gave inside access to the injured man had been obtained. Mr Strachan's workmate released him, and the policeman and Mr Diggs got the injured man from the beam.

Mr Diggs pick-a-backed Mr Strachan down the spiral staircase and out to the ambulance. The rescue took half an hour.