The emergency services have been praised for their team effort in helping a man who suffered serious head injuries after becoming trapped under scrap metal in Penryn.
A spokesman for the Coastguard Rescue Team said it was a "great example of multi agency working in order to provide the best possible care" for the man.
He was taken to the Royal Cornwall Hospital Treliske with head and chest injuries after being struck on the head by the metal and becoming trapped inside a skip.
Coastguards said the man had been overseeing the loading of a lorry from the platform of the trailer when the load shifted and hit him.
Falmouth coastguard, firefighters and ambulance were called to Eastwood Road near Challenger Marine in Ponsharden, Penryn at 4.50pm yesterday afternoon.
A spokesman for Falmouth Coastguard said: "The fire brigade requested our assistance because the skills the coastguard team members have can be used in other environments than in cliff rescues and today we were able to give them some technical assistance in releasing the man."
Initial plans were to airlift him out, but after an assessment this was ruled out as an option.
"As the incident progressed, the team were tasked to assist with a technical rope extraction," said the spokesman.
With the assistance of the fire crews, who had already stabilised the load in the skil, they were able to get the casualty stable and onto a stretcher before pulling him out.
The spokesman added: "The casualty had received some fairly serious injuries. All personnel worked extremely well together.
"Although as a team we train for rope rescue on the coast, these skills, as this incident shows, shows they are invaluable and can be used in other rescue settings."
