A bellringer was seriously injured after she was entangled in ropes and dragged 20ft into a belfry.
The woman, believed to be in her late 50s, was taking part in her regular bell-ringing rehearsals when she suddenly shot into the air.
She was dragged straight upwards by a rope and ”thrown around” the bell tower at St Nicholas Church in Bathampton, Somerset.
The unnamed campanologist was tossed around the belfry and then fell from the ropes onto a “loose” piece of flooring in the tower.
Firefighters spent more than an hour carefully rescuing the woman and were forced to lift a section of the gallery floor to reach her.
They managed to lower the terrified victim 20ft (6m) to safety using a specialist stretcher following the incident at the medieval tower at 9.45pm on Monday.
Paramedics gave the bell ringer morphine and made her comfortable during the rescue before rushing her to hospital.
The woman was taken to the Royal United Hospital in Bath where she is recovering with suspected pelvic injury.
A spokesman for Avon Fire and Rescue Service said: “We responded to reports of a woman being hurt after becoming entangled in a bell ringing rope.
“The local woman, believed to be in her late 50s, had been thrown around the belfry before landing awkwardly.
“Fire crews were alerted by the ambulance service, who had administered morphine and made her comfortable while awaiting rescue.
“Special rope rescue lines and equipment, including a stretcher, were used.
“A section of the bell ringing gallery floor was lifted up and the woman was then safely lowered about 20 feet to the ground.
“She was in good spirits when she left to go to hospital.”
