Residents stunned as earthquake hits homes

The father of a 19-year-old man whose pelvis was broken when masonry crashed into his bedroom during the quake said today: "It could have been worse."

Student David Bates was watching TV in the attic of his home in Barnsley Road, Wombwell, South Yorkshire, when the tremor struck.

His father Paul said he was awoken by a deep rumble which was then followed by shouts from his son upstairs.

Mr Bates said his son was hit by a piece of masonry about two feet by two feet which had fallen from the chimney stack.

This morning the rear of his terrace house showed the extent of the damage with large chunks of stone littering the tiny backyard and a gaping hole in the roof.

Another heavy piece of masonry was perched by the chimney stack, apparently held on to the roof by a thin aerial cable.

Mr Bates said: "David was watching TV and I was in bed.

"I'd just heard the big rumble that everyone else heard but then I heard David shouting "Dad" and I ran upstairs.

"This massive piece of stone had landed on his hip and he was just shouting that he thought it was broken and I called an ambulance.

"He was on his way to hospital by 1.20am."

Mr Bates added: "You just don't expect it. Of all the things that can happen - an earthquake.

"I could not believe it but when I think about it, it could have been worse."

Mr Bates said he was still waiting to hear the extent of his son's injury but he believed he had either fractured his pelvis or something similar.

He went on: "Look at all the chimneys around here. There are hundreds of them. How come mine had to come crashing through my roof?

"David was just covered in soot when he left in the ambulance.

"It was incredible, the damage it did.

"Then the neighbour came round and he was covered as well. He looked like a chimney sweep."

Neighbour Kleber Afonso described how he was working on his computer in the attic next to where Mr Bates was injured.

He said: "It all just crashed in. I just couldn't believe it."