Worker in meat grinder horror

James Hardcastle suffered three fractures and had to be freed by firefighters after the accident at about 6pm on Tuesday last week.

Crews from Brampton and Mexborough, as well as members of the technical rescue unit, attended the scene at Cranswick Convenience Foods, on Meadowgate, between Brampton and Wombwell.

The Health and Safety Executive confirmed that they were investigating what had happened, and the company also said an internal inquiry would also take place.

A fire service spokesman said: “We worked alongside paramedics and work engineers. They released the casualty six minutes later, and he was taken to Barnsley District General Hospital by ambulance.”

Mr Hardcastle, in his 30s, was also left with "severe cuts" to his arm and underwent surgery on the fractures last weekend.

Clive Stephens, divisional operations and technical director at Cranswick, said: “In essence, we have a full internal investigation underway, and will also be meeting with the HSE this week.

“We are in touch with James's family. Our thoughts go out to him and his family, and we will stay in touch in terms of keeping up on his progress.

“He had an operation on Saturday and is currently waiting for further news on that.”

He added: “In terms of health and safety, we have managers on each site. As a company it is something we take very, very seriously.”