Shop wall collapse crushes man, 27

Trapped victim and 2 youths are held on suspicion of burglary

A 27-YEAR-OLD man suffered serious injuries when a shop wall collapsed, trapping him under rubble.

The incident happened yesteray evening when the man, believed to be from Oldham, crawled through a hole in the back wall of Andy’s Autoparts shop in Yorkshire Street, near the junction with Union Street.

He suffered serious internal injuries when some of the internal brickwork in the double-skinned wall collapsed across his midriff, leaving his legs stuck outside.

Two youths, aged 16 and 17, who were with him called an ambulance at around 8.15pm.

Fire crews from Oldham and police attended and spent two hours at the scene — with firefighters using cutting equipment to cut through the metal shutters at the front to enter the store.

Hydraulic rams were used to lift the wall and allow the man to be pulled free.

He suffered a ruptured spleen and other abdominal injuries and remains in a serious condition at the Royal Oldham Hospital.

A firefighter from Oldham said: “The lad was still conscious and breathing when we found him but in a lot of pain.”

All three were arrested on suspicion of burglary and the two teenagers remain in police custody for questioning.

Business owner Andy Heald (40), who lives in Flintshire, North Wales, said the attempted theft will severely affect his business.

He said: “The first I knew about it was when Moorland Site Security, who were alerted when the firefighters broke in, contacted me to say there had been an incident and someone was trapped in my wall.

“I’ve heard of people breaking through walls but not getting trapped in there and then having to call the police to rescue them. It’s ridiculous. I feel angry, I’ve got no words for people like this.

“My business has been forced to stop and I can’t get any weekend orders out.

“This could cost the business thousands.”

The business has been cordoned off and forensics officers were attending this morning.