Worker's eight hour vault ordeal

Crews had to pump oxygen into the vault during the rescue

A demolition worker has had a Hallowe'en nightmare after spending eight hours trapped in a disused bank vault in Leicester.

Carlton Richardson, from Manchester, was working to convert a former bank into a restaurant and apartments when he became stuck in the vault.

A specialist rescue team from Leicestershire Fire Service was called in to drill the vault open on Tuesday.

Firefighters had to pump in oxygen to the vault during the rescue.

Poisonous fumes

Mr Richardson, said: "When the door shut I shouted to my mates 'get me out of here,' 'get me out of here.'

"They looked for the keys but they couldn't find them, so my boss and one of my colleagues tried burning off the hinges but that didn't do anything at all."

Firefighters then spent eight hours drilling open the vault.

Crews had to pump in oxygen to Mr Richardson to counteract the poisonous carbon monoxide fumes created by the rescue equipment.

Ian Holden, from Leicestershire Fire Service, said: "We managed to be able to put a pipe through with some compressed air in so he could breath in there.

"We were very worried that if we did start to cut through and we created any fumes or any sparks that he would be overcome by them."

Mr Richardson thanked rescue crews on Wednesday.

"It was a huge relief to get out. The fire crews did an excellent job."