A YOUNG worker who was dragged into an unguarded machine was told by doctors he was inches from death.

Darren Foley, 24, has scars and needs weekly visits to hospital after the accident, which trapped his left arm in a tyre shredding machine.

An emergency air ambulance was drafted in as firefighters cut him free from the device. He suffered a double break, damaged muscle and torn tendons and spent weeks recovering in hospital.

Doctors at the James Cook University Hospital told his mother Christine, 58, he had been inches from death.

Mr Foley's step-father John McCormack, 50, said: "Darren is a strong lad and it was only his own strength that saved his life."

North East Tyre Collections Ltd, formerly of Lazenby, but now based in Middlesbrough, was fined £8,700 on Monday.

The Health and Safety Executive told Guisborough magistrates how Mr Foley had reached towards the powerful rollers to retrieve a discarded piece of rubber when he was dragged forwards and trapped.

Mr Foley, who was hired in January, has undergone six operations and has had a metal bar inserted into his arm.

Matthew Lee, joint director of the company, admitted failing to ensure safe machinery at work. He also pleaded guilty to not having employer's liability insurance.

The court heard that adequate guards, which could have prevented the accident, were not in place.

Mr McCormack said: "There should be a law to check if a company has employer's insurance.

"When we found out they weren't insured, we were absolutely astounded. Darren was hired through the New Deal programme at the Job Centre, so to be taken on by a company working illegally is shocking. He could have been killed."

Laura Lyons, prosecuting, told the court how Mr Foley, of Southbank, Middlesbrough, noticed pieces of rubber were falling from the conveyor belt and had reached in to pick up a discarded piece when he became entangled in rollers.

The court was told that since the accident, the business, which was set up in December 2002, no longer operated machines.

The company was also ordered to pay £1,020 costs