Factory worker Matthew Lowe has cheated death after being dragged through a 12cm (5in) CD-sized gap, when his clothes got caught in an industrial machine.

Shattered: An X-ray showing pins used to repair Matthew Lowe’s body (Picture: Ben Lack)

In recovery: Matthew Lowe

Matthew Lowe suffered a broken back, pelvis, hips, and ribs, while his stomach and bowel were ruptured in the incident.

Afterwards, his partner was told by doctors to expect the worst.

The 25-year-old said: ‘I don’t know how I managed to survive.


‘Luckily, my head went through a bigger gap before my body was dragged through a space no wider than a CD case.’

Mr Lowe was working as a welder at Compass Engineering, near his home in Barnsley, when the accident happened.



He was next to a conveyor that moved metal into the factory when his clothes got caught and he was pulled sideways towards the machinery.

Mr Lowe said: ‘I knew what was going to happen so I just relaxed and hoped for the best. It crushed my body, ripped my clothes to shreds and literally spat me out at the other end – but I was still alive.’

After six operations following the December 2008 ordeal, Mr Lowe’s only visible injury now is a weakened right arm.

But X-rays show how much metal was used to pin his battered body together again.

Mr Lowe is now training to be a site supervisor for Compass.

His employer and the German company that installed the conveyor system are to face magistrates in Barnsley accused of a safety breach.