Jed Christie, 18, is said to be in a stable condition after spending nearly 12 hours buried up to his waist in the trench in Leeds.

BBC Leeds' Lucy Hester: "Rescue teams dug with their hands"

His family have said that his faith in Christ helped him through the ordeal, as firecrews worked through the night to free him.

Mr Christie had been laying drainage pipes in Yeadon, Leeds, when the trench walls gave way on Friday evening.

Initially it was thought he had suffered only a broken leg and hypothermia, but his father later confirmed his injuries had proved more serious.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive is under way.

Anxious looks as the rescue continues

Mike Ferguson, of West Yorkshire Ambulance Service, said: "A dozen men pulled him out like a cork out of a bottle.

"It was getting to the stage where the patient's condition started to deteriorate and we decided to pull him out rather than excavate any more.

"We put a harness around him and with his assistance we actually pulled him out as he held on to the harness."

Boulder 'saved life'

Mike Pierce, West Yorkshire Fire Service: "There was always a risk of further collapse"

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

Gently does it

At one stage rescuers, fearful of further landslides, used their hands to remove the material from around him. Throughout most of the rescue he was placed on a drip and given warm water to drink.

Mr Christie, who remained conscious throughout his ordeal, appeared to be in good spirits when he was released. He was taken by stretcher to a waiting ambulance and is being treated at Leeds General Infirmary.

Assistant Divisional Fire Officer Mike Pierce praised the efforts of the rescue teams who, he said, had battled for many hours through difficult conditions.

He said: "There was always the risk of a further collapse of the trench. All crews that attended from various stations throughout West Yorkshire all took turns down at the sharp end.

"We have a lot of elated firemen who have seen the end of a successful operation."

Mr Christie's uncle, who did not give his name, said: "We would like to thank the many people involved in the rescue operation.