FIRE fighters have spoken of a "miracle" escape after a man spent more than five hours trapped in his overturned car with a metal pole impaled through his body.

Daniel Lang, aged 22, of Hanbury, was discovered in his Vauxhall Astra in a ditch in Tyrells Lane, Lower Bentley, near Webheath, in the early hours of Thursday.

Although the tyre fitter had only two paracetamol tablets to keep him going, he was fully conscious when found.

A fire brigade spokesman said the man's car had hit a tree before landing in a ditch where a pole pierced through one side of the car and out the other, impaling him through both thighs.

Firefighters freed him by cutting the pole six inches either side of his body.

The spokesman added: "It's lucky someone found him because the area is very rural and quiet - it may have been much longer if a passer-by hadn't spotted him.

"It was a very successful combined operation - not only did we have to use an emergency lamp to cut away parts of the car and pole, but paramedics also had to administer oxygen, a drip and pain relief.

"It's one of the most amazing rescues I have ever experienced and it's a miracle he escaped."

He was taken to the Alexandra Hospital, where his condition is described as stable.