Jed Christie became trapped in a trench he was working in at Yeadon near Leeds when the walls of soil collapsed on top of him.

The emergency services managed to dig out the upper part of the teenager's body in a delicate operation during the night before freeing his legs. They used a miniature camera similar to those used in finding earthquake survivors to locate the teenager.

Fire crews said his life had been saved by a large clay boulder which fell on top of him preventing him being completely buried.

Mr Christie, who was conscious throughout his ordeal, appeared to be in good spirits when he was released at 0354 on Saturday.

He was taken by stretcher to a waiting ambulance and is believed to have been taken to the Leeds General Infirmary.