A TEENAGER feared for his life as he battled to free himself from a muddy quagmire.

Paul Campbell had gone to retrieve a football from a building site off Limefield Brow, Bury, when he sank in mud first up to his knees and then, as he struggled, up to his chest.

The 14-year-old said: "Every time I tried to pull myself clear I sank deeper into it. I was panicking. I was slowly sinking and feared I would go right under."

Fortunately for Paul, his pal Steven Brooks grabbed a nearby ladder and laid it across the mud to allow Paul, of New Cateaton Street, to cling to it for support.

Steven (15), of Cornfield Close, then used his mobile phone to call the fire brigade to the scene at the site.

Bury leading fireman Gary Costin said: "We created a platform with our ladders, dug down the mud by hand and used brute force to free the boy."

Paul, a pupil at Derby High School, was hauled from the mud on to the ladders and was taken to Bury General Hospital for treatment to an ankle injury before being allowed home.

"It was like a laugh at first, but when I saw Paul sinking further I became worried," added Steven, a pupil of Bury CE High School.

Paul's trainers are still stuck in the mud pit which firefighters discovered was 12ft deep.

Paul said: "When the mud reached my chest I felt more solid ground beneath my feet and I wasn't sinking as fast.

"Steven did really well to react as quick as he did and I thank him. The situation could have been a lot worse."

Both boys received a stern warning from the housing development bosses to keep away from the site for their own safety.

Meanwhile, Bury Council is investigating the safety aspects of the site. A spokesman said: "We will make an assessment whether this site falls under health and safety at work legislation.

"If it does, then we will notify the Health and Safety Executive.".

Pictured at the scene of the accident are quick-thinking Steven Brooks (left) and cleaned up Paul Campbell.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.