Bell ringer hoisted by ropes in freak accident
Dramatic rescue by fire service during Worcester Cathedral evensong after man’s foot caught in ropes
A bell ringer had to be rescued from Worcester Cathedral after he got caught in the ropes and hoisted into the air by his legs. Ian Bowman, 51, had to be lowered from the bell tower of the 13th century cathedral after his foot got tangled in one of the moving ropes. In a “freak accident”, the experienced ringer was lifted into the air before falling free and slamming into the bell tower floor, injuring his back and cutting his head.
A BELL ringer had to be rescued from Worcester Cathedral after he got caught in the ropes and hoisted into the air by his legs.
Ian Bowman, 51, was in the historic bell tower of the 13th century cathedral when his foot got tangled in one of the moving ropes.
In a “freak accident”, the experienced ringer was lifted into the air before falling free and slamming into the bell tower floor, injuring his back and cutting his head.
Fire crews, including a specialist rope rescue team, were called around 5pm on Saturday when it emerged Mr Bowman could not be safely moved without being lowered 80ft from the bell tower. He was eventually rescued after the crew opened several trapdoors in the cathedral and used a rope system to lower the stretcher to the marble floor during the evensong service.
Mr Bowman was taken to Worcestershire Royal Hospital where he was treated for a cut to his head and back pain.
He was recovering at his home in Widecombe-in-the-Moor, Devon, yesterday, where he said he was waiting to receive more information about his injuries. “I am waiting for a call to see if I have fractured my spine or not,” he said.
“I might have to go to Torbay Hospital if that is the case.”
Mark Regan, the ringing master at Worcester Cathedral, praised the emergency services and described the incident as a “freak accident”.
He added: “Mr Bowman, an experienced ringer from Devon, got his foot caught in a rope and he fell and hurt his head.
“He got his foot caught when a rope was moving and he went up in the air a couple of feet and landed awkwardly.
“He is fine, the emergency services were brilliant. They had been here to practise, so they knew what to do. It was quite dramatic.”
Mr Regan said it was “very reassuring” to know the firemen are trained to deal with this kind of emergency situation.
He added: “It has nothing to do with the safety of bell ringing.”
The Devon ringers had travelled to Worcester to ring for the hour-long evensong, which started at around 4.30pm. The tower at the cathedral contains 16 bells, including a bourdon bell, which together weigh 16 tons - the fifth heaviest ring in the world.
It also has a teaching centre, which has been purpose-built to allow people to learn how to ring on eight training dumb-bells.
After the incident, Grant Wills, a group commander from Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service, wrote on Twitter that it was a “technical and challenging job” and that “crews are credit to the community”.