A MAN was “incredibly lucky” to escape serious injury after a falling tree he had been working on landed on top of him in Abberley.

Paramedics were called to an area of woodland near to Stud Lane this afternoon (Tuesday, August 8).

The man, aged in his 30s, had been cutting a tree when it fell on top of him. He was able to use his chainsaw to free himself and suffered leg injuries and was taken to hospital for treatment.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “When ambulance staff arrived, they were greeted by friends of the man at a rendezvous point on Stud Lane who used their own 4×4 vehicle to take the team into the woods.

“The man was approximately a mile away from the property which was treacherous underfoot and inaccessible by ambulance.

“Once with the patient, ambulance staff found a man who had been pinned underneath a tree by his legs. Luckily, the man had managed to use his chainsaw to cut the tree into pieces to release himself.

“The man, in his 30s, was conscious and breathing and had sustained leg injuries. He was given pain relief to help ease his discomfort before the team worked to immobilised him with a multi-integrated body-splint stretcher which is made of tough fabric and has carry handles to help lift and move a patient.

“The team carried the man up an embankment to the awaiting helicopter, which had landed nearby, before he was airlifted to Worcestershire Royal Hospital.

“Given the nature of the incident, the man was incredibly lucky not to have suffered more serious injuries.”