FIRE, police and ambulance crews coordinated their expertise to rescue a man who had fallen from a roof in the centre of Newton Abbot in the early hours of this morning (Sunday, June 26).

Rescue services responded to the incident in Market Street just after midnight following reports that a man had fallen nearly 20 feet from a flat roof into a culvert.

‘Crews from Newton Abbot and Torquay, together with our specialist rescue team from Bridgwater, and specialist officers, were mobilised following a call from the police at 12.10am,’ said a spokesman for Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service.

‘Because of the casualty’s position and injuries a careful and coordinated approach was needed.

‘Using safe systems of work, ladders, rescue lines, trauma equipment and a stretcher we were able to assist and recover the man in the near two-hour rescue operation.’

Once extracated the casualty was thoroughly assessed again and transferred to hospital with the incident being completed at 02.12am.