96-year-old man freed from shop hit by rock fall

A 96-year-old man has been freed unharmed from a shop after it was hit by a rock fall in Sussex.

The man was not physically trapped by the rock fall but unable to get out of the building in White Rock, Hastings, after the back of the premises fell down at 12.27pm today.

Inspector Lee Lyons said: "Thankfully, this gentleman was in the right place at the right time as far as being in the shop was concerned. He was cut off by the rock fall but was able to talk to colleagues from the fire service who had to work very carefully to free him.

"They were successful in doing this after a couple of hours and he emerged safe and well. A structural engineer has now visited the site and is concerned about the safety of four of the buildings in the area, so they are being cordoned off in order that further examination can take place."

Here's the scene outside a shop in White Rock, Hastings, where man is trapped after a rock fall at lunchtime. Fire crews were working on freeing the man who is not physically trapped by the rock but unable to get out of the building.

A man has become trapped in a shop after a rock fall caused part of the building to collapse. It happened at the rear of the shop in White Rock, Hastings, at 12.27pm today. Fire crews were working on freeing the man who is not physically trapped by the rock but unable to get out of the building.

The A259 road has also been closed. A Sussex Police spokesman said: 'At this stage it is believed that one person may be trapped and firefighters are searching the building, which it is feared may suffer further collapses and a cordon has therefore been set up around the area.

'We are advised that it is a man who is trapped in the building, but he is isolated by the rock fall and not physically trapped by it. He is talking to firefighters who are working out how to rescue him safely.'