A building worker narrowly escaped death when he fell down an open well.

Firefighters were involved in a dramatic rescue to help free him after he was trapped in water in Colchester last night.

The man, who has not yet been named but is believed to be in his late 30s, was working on an East Hill building site yesterday afternoon when he fell down the unguarded well.

He suffered damage to his legs and was trapped in cold water until a rescue could be made by Colchester firefighters.

Station officer Bernie Musto said: "When we arrived he had one leg on a ladder which someone had dropped down to him and was treading water with his other leg.

"We attached a rescue line to him and dropped a ladder down to bring him out."

Workmen on the site saw their colleague fall into the well, which is about 15 to 20 feet deep with about six feet of water in the bottom, and heard the splash as he hit the water.

Mr Musto added: "He was terribly cold and shocked when we got him out of the well because he had been in the water for about ten minutes. He was complaining of pains in his legs."

Once out of the well the worker was wrapped in blankets and taken to Colchester General Hospital by ambulance. He was allowed home after treatment. Police were called to the scene and the health and safety executive has been informed.

His rescue comes just a week after police dog handler Mark Needham fell down a well while tracking a burglar across fields next to Mile End Road, Colchester.

His police dog Casper stayed by the well until help arrived. PC Needham had to tread water in the well until help arrived.

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