A MAJOR rescue operation was launched after a young man fell 15-feet into a quarry during the early hours of yesterday morning. The man, who was about 20-years-old, was with two friends who decided to take a shortcut home across fields from Silver End to Witham after a night out.

A MAJOR rescue operation was launched after a young man fell 15-feet into a quarry during the early hours of yesterday morning.

The man, who was about 20-years-old, was with two friends who decided to take a shortcut home across fields from Silver End to Witham after a night out.

The fall left the man with a head injury, a fractured leg and he soon became hypothermic.

After the accident, at about 1.40am, the men called emergency services but the rescue operation was difficult because the three did not know their exact location.

Essex Ambulance Service said the injured man was a long way from the nearest main road and the dark conditions also hampered the rescue.

Police and firefighters also attended the incident and helped gain access to the site.

Because of the seriousness of the situation a rescue helicopter from RAF Wattisham in Suffolk was called.

When the helicopter arrived it was able to land close to the quarry, by which time the man had been placed on a spinal board with a neck collar by ambulance staff.

He was “hot loaded” onto the aircraft - where the rotors do not shut down - and was flown to Colchester General Hospital where the medical team was on standby.

An Essex Ambulance Service spokesman said: “The paramedic from the rapid response vehicle went with the casualty on the Sea King due to the seriousness of his condition and the drugs that he had been given.”

Last night the man remained in hospital although it is not thought his condition is life threatening.

His friends were not injured.

An Essex Police spokesman said they had been called by the ambulance service to help search for the man.

He said: “We were assisting the paramedics and fire crews to gain access and help to extricate the man from the area.”