A MAN is in hospital with multiple fractures and a crushed vertebra after falling down a 20ft shaft at a disused pumping station.

George Pellas was walking his two pet chow chows when one of the dogs ran into the derelict building, off Barrack Lane, in Dovercourt.

Mr Pellas tripped and fell into one of the disused pits.

His partner of 30 years, Sue Coleman, is now calling for urgent action to improve safety by filling in the pits to prevent anyone else getting hurt.

She said: “He was taking the two dogs for a walk and one dog ran in and fell down one of the pits.

“George went in and tripped and fell, it’s a 20ft drop.

“He couldn’t ring for help from there, so he had to drag himself up the steps and ring from the top.”

Mr Pellas, 60, was taken to Colchester General Hospital where he spent two days in critical care due to breathing difficulties from broken ribs.

Sue said: “George has a fractured pelvis and smashed vertebrae in the middle of his spine.

“Colchester Hospital did a CAT scan and said there are multiple fractures. He is in terrible pain. He can’t move really, he can’t get up or do anything.”

Mr Pellas, a guitarist who plays at pubs around north Essex, helps Sue at her snake sanctuary which is based at their Main Road home.

She added: “I went to the pumping station and they had bricked it up – his £200 glasses are still down there.

“But already someone has pushed the bricks out from the middle, so there is enough space for a child to get through.”

Plans are in the pipeline for Tendring Council to try to buy the site to provide access to the historic Beacon Hill Fort behind, with hopes it could be opened up to the public.

A spokesman for the owner of the pumping station said: “As they are not in possession of all the facts at the moment they feel it is inappropriate to comment at this stage.”