Man trapped under several tonnes of cheese for more than eight hours rescued
A forklift driver who spent more than eight hours trapped under a "huge amount" of 20 kilogram wheels, blocks and boxes of cheese in a UK warehouse has been rescued.
Tomasz Wiszniewski walked away from the building in Shropshire on Friday afternoon where high storage shelves laden with several tonnes of cheese came down upon him.
Police and fire crews used drones and sniffer dogs to locate the Polish national who was pinned inside the cage of this forklift.
Colleague Debbie Belcher told the BBC there was a sense of "complete fear and dread" upon hearing the news their workmate was trapped.
"I can't imagine what he's been going through," she said.
Dayko the ‘hero dog’ dies from exhaustion after mammoth rescue effort
Good Samaritans rescue woman from alleged sex attacker in Melbourne
Crews used dogs and other specialised equipment in the operation described as one of the biggest search and rescues in Shropshire's history.
After the warehouse wall – burgeoning from the weight of the cheese – was cut open, Mr Wiszniewski was freed from pile of tangled cheese and shelving.
He seemed in good spirits after the rescue, talking and smiling with his saviours.
Shropshire Fire and Rescue spokesman Malcolm Stevenson said the warehouse stored a huge amount of stock for supermarket companies across the UK.
"It's metal racking, virtually up to the ceiling, pretty high, and it's full of product of various size," he said.
"The racking is organised in corridors. Most of that has fallen over and collapsed."
An investigation into the collapse is being undertaken.
RELATED VIDEO:
