A TEENAGE machine worker spent nearly an hour with his arm trapped in a conveyor belt at a factory in Strood.

The 19-year-old was finally freed from the machine by firefighters from Strood and Medway fire stations after an agonizing 45-minute rescue.

He was taken to Medway Maritime Hospital and treated for a broken left arm and shock.

The accident happened at Eurotech Waste Ltd on the Temple Marsh industrial estate in Knight Road. The victim’s left forearm became trapped between a roller and the framework of the conveyor belt.

His colleagues, including a trained first aid worker, tried desperately to free him but he remained trapped.

Fire crews tried to use two hydraulic machines to separate the roller from the machine but to no avail.

The team of 11 firefighters had to dismantle the machine piece by piece to finally rescue the teenage worker.

Jim Ramsden, sub-officer at Strood, said: “He suffered a severe crush injury and was suffering shock. He was trapped by the arm just above the elbow.

“He was trapped for up to 45 minutes from the time we were called until the time he was free.’’

Kent Fire Service station officer Martin Emery said: “His colleagues at first tried to get him out but couldn’t.

“When we came we tried to separate the roller from the framework using hydraulic equipment but that wasn’t successful so we completely dismantled the machine.

“The victim suffered severe trauma and a possible broken arm.”

A spokesman for Eurotech said: “The employee has suffered a broken arm and is recovering.”