Lift plunge man has lucky escape

A building worker who fell 40ft (12m) down a lift shaft in a Manchester skyscraper escaped with just cuts and bruises.

Michael Burke walked into the empty shaft on the ground floor of the Co-operative Insurance Services (CIS) building and fell down to the basement.

He suffered cuts to his hands and injuries to his stomach and was taken to hospital for treatment.

His colleague was also taken to hospital and treated for shock.

It is thought that a fault with the lift in the 26-storey building is to blame for the accident and the Health and Safety Executive has been informed.

A CIS spokesman said: "We can confirm that two contractors were treated by medics after one of the men fell down the lift shaft from the ground floor to the basement area.

"Fortunately the man fell not more than 40ft. It's an incredibly lucky escape and we are thankful it did not happen on one of the higher floors."