Dudley worker hurt as mower flips over

A council worker suffered serious injuries after getting trapped under an industrial lawnmower in Dudley. The 54-year-old man had to be airlifted to hospital.

The machine toppled on to the man as he cut grass on a slope.

Passers-by and an off-duty police officer came to the worker's aid, helping to lift the lawnmower off him after the accident in Watsons Green Road, Kates Hill.

Police cordoned off part of the road near Green Park while paramedics treated the victim yesterday at around 4.30pm.

A resident, who lives in Watsons Green Road but did not want to be named, said he rushed out to helped the Dudley Council worker when he saw the lawnmower fall on top of him.

He said: "The man was cutting the grass on the verge but then the lawnmower got stuck and he got off.

"He then got back on and it just seemed to topple over.

"He jumped off and it landed on top of him.

"There were three of us trying to help lift the lawnmower off him. I kept talking to him."

The victim was airlifted to Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham with serious chest, leg and back injuries.

West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman Murray MacGregor said: "A number of passers-by came to the man's aid and had lifted the mower off him by the time the first ambulance resources arrived."

Mr MacGregor added: "The trust would like to pay tribute to the actions of an off-duty police officer who was one of those who stopped to assist.

"The ambulance staff at the scene said he was an invaluable help liaising with the additional resources en route and providing assistance to the paramedics at the scene."

By Laura Blyth