A WOMBWELL teenager was injured when an earthquake sent a chimney stack toppling on top of him.
David Bates, 19, of Barnsley Road, was watching TV in bed when a piece of stonework weighing an estimated third of a tonne crashed through the roof and struck him at 12.57am on Wednesday, crushing his pelvis.
Speaking from his hospital bed yesterday, he said it was after the 'quake stopped that he heard what sounded like crashing plates. He then felt the crush of the stone on top of him.
He said it was all very quick. He managed to push the stone off him, but when fire-fighters arrived, three of them could not pick it up because it was too heavy.
David said he was gutted that he will have to miss Barnsley's matches against Sheffield Wednesday tomorrow and Chelsea next week. He had tickets for both.
The chimney left a hole in the roof and another piece of stonework was left precariously balanced above the bedroom.
A hospital spokesman said David had broken his pelvis. Doctors were still reviewing his case yesterday and it is not known how long he will stay in hospital. His condition was described as comfortable, but he was still in a bit of pain and was taking pain relief.
