Man recovering after accident

By Michael Emons

A MIDDLESBROUGH man was tonight recovering in Ipswich Hospital after being trapped in machinery at Felixstowe Dock.

Gordon McLeod, believed to be in his late 30s, suffered suspected leg injuries in the accident.

He was working at the docks at about 2.30pm today for Konecranes, a company based in East Kilbride, Scotland.

Paul Davey, corporate affairs manager at Felixstowe Dock said: "We have some contractors raising the height of four key cranes and there was an accident there this afternoon.

"I believe what happened is that a welder working on the cranes got trapped between the lift and the machinery he was working on."

Fire crews from Felixstowe and Princes Street, Ipswich attended the scene and released the man after about 50 minutes before he was taken to Ipswich Hospital.

Mr McLeod had been working in Felixstowe since September and was due to be there until the project was completed in February 2004.

"He was working in an area of the port that was sectioned off and he was not working for the port directly," said Mr Davey.

"We had given a contract to Konecranes to undertake some work for us and he was working for them and not for the port of Felixstowe.

"I do not believe this has ever happened before."

Mr Davey could not confirm how many people Mr McLeod was working alongside but said "he was not working on his own."

A spokesman from Suffolk Fire Service said they were called at 2.30pm and a man was released after being trapped in "a cherry picker" before being taken to Ipswich Hospital. The fire crews left the incident at 3.20pm.

A hospital spokeswoman talked to Mr McLeod and described him as "being alert" and "not in undue pain". She added: "He wishes to state he is comfortable and does not wish the extent of his injuries to be known further."

Mr Davey said: "There will be a full investigation and it will need to be reported to the health and safety authorities."

No one was available from Konecranes to comment.