Passers-by help trapped workman

Sasha Ufnowska comforted the injured man before help arrived

A workman trapped by a dumper truck was rescued after a mother and daughter heard "blood-curdling" screams while out picking mushrooms.

The Bridgend council employee became trapped when his vehicle overturned near Llangynwyd, Maesteg.

Ann Monica, 55, and her daughter Sasha Ufnowska, 32, who lives nearby, heard him shrieking in pain and sought help.

He was airlifted to hospital with serious ankle injuries but is now said to be in a comfortable condition.

The incident happened at around 1300 BST on Thursday at Celfydd Ifan Farm, Lletty Brongu near Maesteg during maintenance work on a public path.

The vehicle overturned and the driver's ankle became trapped between his vehicle and a tree.

Mrs Monica, who lives in Wiltshire, was staying at her daughter's home near the scene of the accident and the pair had gone looking for mushrooms.

He was all right but he was panicking a bit but I got him talking and breathing a bit more slowly Sasha Ufnowska

"All of a sudden we heard these terrible screams and shrieks. It was a blood-curdling noise and I haven't heard anything like it," said Mrs Monica.

"It seemed to be across the valley in a cluster of trees.

"My daughter phoned 999 but we thought they wouldn't take us seriously because we said somebody was hurt but we didn't know where they were."

They got into their car and drove to the nearby farm but the screaming had stopped and Ms Monica feared the man had died.

They eventually saw the worker's colleague in the woods and made their way to the scene of the accident.

"A small digger had tipped over sideways and gone down the slope with the man hanging out," she said.

"His legs were crushed between the digger and the trees."

The man was conscious but the dumper truck could not be moved so Miss Ufnowska kept him talking.

"He was all right but he was panicking a bit but I got him talking and breathing a bit more slowly," she said.

Crush injuries

The remote location meant access was difficult for emergency services but firefighters released the man using hand tools.

He was also treated at the scene by paramedics before being airlifted to Morriston hospital in Swansea.

A spokesperson for Bridgend council said: "During maintenance work on a remote public right of way between the villages of Shwt and Lletty Brongu in the Llynfi Valley, a small four-wheel drive dumper vehicle which was carrying materials for the work overturned and trapped its driver by the ankle.

"Fire and ambulance personnel responded promptly and the driver was released and airlifted to Morriston Hospital.

"He underwent an operation for crush injuries to his ankle and is now comfortable in hospital.

"The Health and Safety Executive has been informed."