Man critical after freak Yanks accident

A man was critically injured yesterday after being run over by a wartime field gun at the Yanks celebrations.

The horrific accident happened outside the Carriage House Inn, Manchester Road, Marsden, when the man was pinned to the ground by the heavy weapon his team had been towing.

An air ambulance hovered above as police cordoned off the road where the accident had happened shortly before 1pm yesterday.

Witnesses say the man, from Middleton, jumped from the back of the GMC cargo truck as it stopped, but was then dragged under the large gun as the driver moved forward.

The incident happened as the 60-vehicle convoy reached the half-way point at the pub.

Gary Delaney, who has been coming to the event for the past four years, was driving his wartime jeep in the procession and was caught up when the accident happened.

He said: “I parked up and ran over when I saw him on the floor.

“He was really disorientated at first but he was still conscious as people surrounded him.

“The gun had gone right over him, the complete length of his body.”

The man was airlifted to Huddersfield Royal Infirmary, where he is said to be suffering serious but not life-threatening injuries.