Devizes dustman hurt in 30ft tumble (From This Is Wiltshire)

Dustman Martin Brownless suffered serious injuries when he fell through a fence while on his round in Devizes on Monday morning.

The 57-year-old Wiltshire Council worker, of Devizes, fell about 30ft from outside a flat at the back of the shops in Monday Market Street on to the pavement by the entrance to the West Central car park.

The Gazette understands Mr Brownless was dropping bags into the bin lorry over the white fence at the perimeter of the flats when the fence gave way and he fell through on to the ground below.

The collection was an assisted one, which means refuse workers collect rubbish and recycling from outside a householder’s door when the resident is unable to put them at the kerbside.

Mr Brownless’s colleagues called for an ambulance and Wiltshire Air Ambulance paramedics Jo Munday and Ross Culligan attended in a car. The helicopter was unable to fly due to mist.

Mr Culligan said: “It would appear the barrier had broken and the man fell through. The balcony was about 30 feet above the road.”

Mr Brownless was conscious but the paramedics suspected he had broken his pelvis. He was sedated before being put into an ambulance and driven to Frenchay Hospital near Bristol.

Swift medic Dr Ed Valentine also went on the journey to Frenchay with the paramedics and assisted giving advanced pre-hospital care to Mr Brownless.

It is believed Mr Brownless has worked for Wiltshire Council for two years.

The accident happened just before 8.25am and the ambulance got to Frenchay at 9.45pm. Police cordoned off the site while they carried out enquiries.

Later that morning the white fence was repaired by a private contractor and by the evening a large steel fence had been put in place in front of the fence.

It is believed the flats are privately owned. Wiltshire Council is working with the Health and Safety Executive to investigate the incident.

A council spokesman said: “We wish our colleague a speedy recovery. It would be inappropriate to comment on the incident while it is being investigated.”