A MAN was seriously injured when he plunged 20 foot through the asbestos roof of an old barn in Tyldesley yesterday.

The 39-year-old victim, who has not been named, suffered head, shoulder and chest injuries in the fall through the roof of the building in Mosley Common Road.

He was taken to Salford's Hope Hospital, where he was still detained this lunchtime. The man was not thought to be in any danger.

The incident happened at about 11.30am, as he was on the roof dismantling the old barn. The section of the roof he was standing on suddenly gave way and he fell 20 feet through asbestos sheeting onto the floor below.

Police and ambulance paramedics were called to the scene. Leading Ambulance Paramedic Derek Anthony said: "We used a survival collar and a special scoop stretcher because there was a possibility that the man could have suffered a spinal injury after such a serious fall."

Police have informed health and safety officers.

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