A RYEDALE man was recovering today after being impaled on a seven-foot spike at Malton Bacon Factory.

Karl Wallace, 42, from Wold Street, Norton, had a meat hook spike embedded three inches into his back in the area of his shoulder blade in the accident.

The spike was said to have missed Mr Wallace's spine by inches.

Firefighters attended the factory and assisted paramedics at the scene.

The fire crew members cut off part of the spike, which is thought to have fallen on to Mr Wallace as he bent over.

Terry Glover, spokesman for North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, said that in a delicate operation, firefighters from Malton had used a finger saw to cut the spike, leaving just 18 inches emerging from the man's back.

Mr Glover said the emergency workers had had to stabilise the spike before Mr Wallace was taken for emergency hospital treatment after the accident, which occurred yesterday morning. The firefighters had taken great care to avoid causing vibrations which would have worsened the pain, and which they feared might have led to paralysis.

They accompanied Mr Wallace, a processing operative, in an ambulance to York District Hospital, and stood by as surgeons worked to remove the spike.

Mr Wallace, who remained conscious throughout his rescue, was released from hospital later in the day, and was today believed to be recovering at home. There was no reply to callers at his house today.

A spokesman for the factory said there would be a full investigation into the accident and the Health and Safety Executive would be involved.

Updated: 10:14 Saturday, December 01, 2001