A BELL ringer had to be rescued by crane after he plunged almost 20ft inside a church tower.
Fire crews had to smash through a leaded window to get to the badly injured man.
He received life-saving aid from specialist medics in the 142ft tower before being lowered down during a two-hour rescue.
It happened on Sunday just before the 10.30am service at St Luke’s and Christ Church in Chelsea, West London, when the bells are usually rung for 20 minutes beforehand.
A source said the victim was craned because the tower was “such a confined space”.
London Fire Brigade said it had been called “to reports of a man who had fallen around five to six metres in the church bell tower”.
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Emergency services, including an air ambulance and a medical hazardous area response team, also attended the scene.
The man was transported to a major trauma centre at hospital that specialises in treating life-changing injuries.
The church said the “whole community is in deep shock”.
It added: “The injured party was stabilised at the scene and subsequently transferred to hospital where he is currently being treated for his injuries.”
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St Luke’s has ten bells that were cast 200 years ago.
They are rung by a team of volunteers.
The church, where author Charles Dickens married in 1836, is known for hosting big charity fundraisers, with Prince William and Prince Harry both attending events in the past.
Tuesday 15 September
Peterborough
2 – 2
Live 74′
Barnsley
Middlesbrough
1 – 2
Live 60′
Millwall
Falkirk
1 – 1
Live 59′
Hearts
Hibernian
0 – 1
Live 59′
Kilmarnock
Motherwell
0 – 2
Live 59′
Aberdeen
Stenhousemuir
0 – 0
Live 57′
Partick
West Ham
2 – 2
Live 57′
Fulham
Tuesday 15 September
L Orient
1 – 2
Southern Group F
Arsenal
Swindon
1 – 2
Southern Group E
Crystal Palace
Wycombe
2 – 1
Southern Group C
Chelsea
Chesterfield
5 – 3
Northern Group D
Man City
York
1 – 3
Northern Group C
Newcastle
Alavés
0 – 1
PRD
Valencia
Rayo
2 – 1
PRD
Espanyol
Standings currently unavailable.
Tuesday 15 September
Peterborough
2 – 2
Live 74′
Barnsley
Middlesbrough
1 – 2
Live 60′
Millwall
Falkirk
1 – 1
Live 59′
Hearts
Hibernian
0 – 1
Live 59′
Kilmarnock
Motherwell
0 – 2
Live 59′
Aberdeen
Stenhousemuir
0 – 0
Live 57′
Partick
West Ham
2 – 2
Live 57′
Fulham
Tuesday 15 September
L Orient
1 – 2
Southern Group F
Arsenal
Swindon
1 – 2
Southern Group E
Crystal Palace
Wycombe
2 – 1
Southern Group C
Chelsea
Chesterfield
5 – 3
Northern Group D
Man City
York
1 – 3
Northern Group C
Newcastle
Alavés
0 – 1
PRD
Valencia
Rayo
2 – 1
PRD
Espanyol
Standings currently unavailable.