A MAN sleeping rough in a bin had to be rescued after it was emptied out into a recycling truck.
Refuse collectors had to call 999 for help after hearing his muffled cries from inside the rear of the lorry.
Fire crews then arrived on the scene to pull him free and the man was taken to hospital for a check-up.
But a scaffolder who witnessed the drama in Novers Hill, Bristol, said: “He’s lucky he wasn’t crushed to death.
“We were told the binmen heard this bloke crying out after he was accidentally tipped into the back of the lorry.
“There were two ambulances and two fire engines here.”
It was believed the man had been sleeping rough on scrubland close to an industrial estate.
He then decided to sleep in a large wheelie bin to escape heavy rain on Monday night — unaware binmen would be emptying it at 6am the next day.
A spokeswoman from Avon Fire and Rescue said: “Crews used a triple extension ladder and vehicle hydraulics to rescue the individual from where they were trapped.
“Crews also worked with ambulance on the scene.”
South Western Ambulance Service added: “We sent one double-crewed land ambulance, an operations officer, and the hazardous area response team.
“We conveyed one patient to Bristol Royal Infirmary.”
A man sleeping rough in a bin had to be rescued after it was emptied out into a recycling truck Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
