Jon Hebditch
A pensioner was taken to hospital yesterday after he plunged more than 10ft through a hatch in the floor of his Aberdeen home and fell into the basement.
Fire and ambulance crews were called to the scene at around 9.40am after being alerted to the incident on Kirkhill Road in the Torry area of the city.
Firefighters used cutting equipment to reach the man, named locally as 83-year-old Gordon Grant, before paramedics took him to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.
Mr Grant’s relatives did not want to comment on his condition last night, however his injuries were described as “not life threatening” by the emergency services.
A notice the door of his home yesterday read: “Danger. Central heating installation works in progress. Enter with caution.”
Two appliances from North Anderson Drive community fire station were sent, along with an appliance from Altens.
Station Manager Gorden Riddel attended the incident.
He said: “The casualty had fallen into the basement through a hatch at the front door of his house and he was about 10-12ft down.
“Firefighters and paramedics provided first aid and assessed his condition to determine the best way of bringing him back up.”
He added that firefighters had to use specialist cutting equipment to make a new hole to rescue the man.
He said: “Our crews used cutting tools to create a larger hatch through to the living room floor, which was big enough for him to be lifted out on a basket stretcher.
“He was conscious throughout the rescue operation, which was a clear example of joined-up working between firefighters and our ambulance colleagues.”
Last night a worried neighbour said Mr Grant had lived on the street since the estate was first built.
She said: “It’s a real shame to hear that he’s hurt himself.
“He’s been here for years and years, he’s one of the originals around here.”
A police spokesman said: “We were made aware of the incident but didn’t attend.”