A COLLEGE worker is recovering after impaling himself on iron railings.

Cyril Hammond, 61, a technician at Teesside Tertiary College, Middlesbrough, had to have a two-feet section of iron railing cut from his leg after falling on to the railings surrounding the Longlands campus while taking a short cut.

His rescue was co-ordinated by Middlesbrough Fire Station Officer Steve Waggott, who described it as a "very delicate operation".

SO Waggott said: "We cut away a two feet section of railing still attached to him, and had to put a couple of firefighters in the ambulance taking him to hospital, to support the weight of the railings.

"Obviously, he had to be moved very gingerly."

SO Waggett paid tribute to staff from the college - qualified in first aiders - who supported Mr Hammond's weight on the railings until the arrival of the firefighters, and kept him calm.

Crews used low vibration saws to cut Mr Hammond free, which were heavily lubricated to further reduce the vibrations.

SO Waggott said that, fortunately for Mr Hammond, the section of railing which pierced his thigh was a rounded design, rather than spikes, and prevented blood loss.

"There was no blood lost, not even as much as you would have got slicing your finger on a tin of corned beef," said Mr Waggott.

Had his leg being punctured by a sharp metal point, he could have bled to death in the same way Damilola Taylor died after a major artery in his thigh drained of blood.

It was college security guard Paul Clay who first found the semi-conscious Mr Hammond.

College secretary Martin Peagram said particular praise must go to Mr Clay, caretaker Phil Atkins, lecturers Alan Gallafant and Martin Humphries, as well as student Ian Welch, who all went to his assistance.

Mr Peagam said: "I am proud of the members of staff and the student who came to Cyril's aid. They acted quickly and properly. Without their efforts, Cyril's injuries could have been much worse."

Mr Hammond's wife Sheila said: "I am very grateful to the emergency services for their prompt response and their efforts to help my husband."

Mr Hammond will be in hospital for some days to come, and his wife and son have been keeping a bedside vigil.

The college has launched an investigation to establish how Mr Hammond became impaled, but it is understood he was trying to clamber over the railings while taking a short cut across the campus.