A VICTIM of a fall in Morecambe spoke of her gratitude to a kindly neighbour who helped her through 40 minute painful, ordeal this week.

Debbie Gillespie, 21, fell down a manhole on Green Street on Monday evening.

Luckily her cries were heard by a passing middle-aged woman who lived on the street. The good Samaritan tried to lift her out while doing her best to assure mum Debbie.

When she couldn't lift her out the woman then went to call an ambulance returning to try and calm Debbie, who lives on Euston Grove, before the paramedics arrived. Still concerned the good neighbour called the hospital twice the next day while Debbie was recovering with a badly damaged leg. "She was very nice," said Debbie, "she stayed with me the whole time apart from when she went to get help. I would really like to thank her. The ambulancemen were very nice too. I want to say sorry to the man who helped lift me out. I was in a lot of pain. Everyone was great but that time in the hole seemed endless."

Debbie was wedged in the cellar manhole from about 7.10pm to 7.50pm on Monday night. The paramedics released her by tying her legs together, securing a board to her back and gently lifting her out of the hole.

Debbie had crushed one ligament and torn another as well as having severe bruising on her legs and the rest of her body. Her leg is secured in a plaster cast.

She was taken to the RLI where she stayed for treatment until 10.30pm. She had to return for most of the next day.

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