A DUSTMAN has been rushed to hospital after crushing his thumb in part of the machinery that was lifting a rubbish bin into the lorry.
The Southampton City Council employee was collecting rubbish in Mansell Road East, Millbrook, when the accident happened just after 8.30am today.
He was freed by firefighters and taken to Southampton General Hospital for emergency surgery.
A resident, who did not wish to be named, said: "He was putting one of the recycling bins into the lorry when he caught his thumb in the mechanism.
"I heard a scream and came out with my wife. His colleague were shouting 'his finger's caught'.
"He was in a lot of pain and was very distressed. I reckon he will lose his thumb."
Mitch Sanders, head of regulatory and city services at the city council said: “Senior council staff and emergency services immediately attended the scene this morning and a full investigation of this incident is underway. The Health and Safety Executive have also been informed.
“The injured member of staff has been taken to hospital, where he is receiving treatment for his injury. We extend our best wishes to him for a speedy recovery.
“Once all the facts are known we will make sure any lessons are learnt to prevent a reoccurrence of such an unfortunate incident.”
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