A boy came to his mum’s rescue when a bizarre accident left her trapped in an ironing board.
Michelle Thomas didn’t know what to do when her thumb got jammed in the board’s locking mechanism. The nurse, of Portland Walk, Macclesfield, was in danger of breaking her thumb as she struggled to work it free.
But quick-thinking Alex, who is seven, passed her the telephone so she could call 999.
Michelle, 43, said: "I was hoovering and Alex called for me – I turned to talk to him and knocked the ironing board over.
"I went to grab it and caught it at a funny angle so my thumb got jammed up at one end."
As the pain increased and Michelle’s thumb began to swell, she decided she needed to call for help.
"My first thought was ‘What do I do now?’
"It took them a while to work out who was best to help.
"I was on the phone for 25 minutes before they said I needed the fire brigade, but they were brilliant.
"I felt so stupid. It felt like my thumb would break if I moved – it was crushing the bones."
Alex ran outside to meet the fire engine and firefighters had Michelle free within minutes, using pliers to twist the metal away from her thumb.
Michelle said: "Alex did so well because he stayed really calm."
Phil Marke, fire service watch manager at Macclesfield, said: "When we got there she was well and truly stuck. I’ve never seen anything like it before.
"Definitely the first person I’ve ever seen stuck in an ironing board in my 14 years as a fire-fighter.
"She was a bit red-faced. She was unlucky. You couldn’t do it if you tried."
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When I read the headline I imagined somebody trapped with one of those ironing boards that folds down for the cupboard, it did not for one secone occur that it may just be a thumb. Well done alex!!!
bloody great news isnt there more going on in the world than this trash
Well done Alex, This story had me in creases.....sorry
Nowt much worse than an ironingboard out to seek revenge for all them times he has been burnt in the past.
But he wasn't counting on........
Dum dum derrr - Alex the kid to save the day.
Well done Alex.
It's shocking when you hear about iron boards attacking their owners in like this. You have to ask though has the board been mistreated in the past for it to suddenly turn on someone like this? I just hope this one is put to sleep, sad but I'd hate to think of someone else falling victim to it.
Poor woman! But what a brave little boy!! Thanks to him the firefighters were led to his mother and her thumb was saved from any possible damage. Well done lad not many kids will have such a tale to tell when they get back to school!!
i blame the government
All ironing boards should be licensed, with massive fines for owners who fail to keep them under control.
Whats the bet that the ironing board will get away with a slap on the wrist and a small fine of £1 a week then he will be given an xbox and tiold not to do it again.
I am fed up with this country and its soft sentences!
Oh this is crazy!!! Must be hard up for news!!!!!
best place for her... I'm here all week, tip your waitresses !!
"Trapped in an ironing board". Well done Alex, but it wasn't really a rescue was it? It was passing someone the phone. I 'rescue' my wife from hunger every friday by passing her the phone to ring the curry shop............
That's it! I've had enough! Ban ironing boards.
I agree these ironing boards should now be banned.
What is an "ironing board" anyway?
The word 'and' springs to mind.
ironing boards are for girlies be warned men if they cant handle them then we,ve got no chance.
this wicked ironing board should have all benefits stopped and should be deported right away! who do they think they are coming over here trapping our thumbs!
"She was a bit red-faced. She was unlucky. You couldn’t do it if you tried."
That my friend sounds like a challenge...
I'm off to read the phone directory. Can't keep up with this crazy, exciting, cutting edge newspaper.