AN investigation has been launched after a worker suffered serious back injuries on a building site near Sizewell nuclear power station.A man was crushed between a cherry-picker and a metal girder while working on the construction site between the two reactors on Thursday afternoon.

AN investigation has been launched after a worker suffered serious back injuries on a building site near Sizewell nuclear power station.

A man was crushed between a cherry-picker and a metal girder while working on the construction site between the two reactors on Thursday afternoon.

It is believed that the man, who is in his late 20s, was pushed up against the ceiling while operating the machine on a hydraulic platform.

Firefighters were called to the scene at about 3pm and had to cut through a metal cage to release him. He was placed on a spinal board and taken to Ipswich Hospital with what were described as life-changing injuries.

The incident happened on the Seeza construction site between Sizewell A and B.

A spokesman for the East of England Ambulance Service said the man was on the cherry-picker's hydraulic platform when he became trapped.

She said: 'Somehow he was pushed upwards on the elevated platform and was crushed between that and the ceiling. It was a very confined space so the fire service was called in to help.

'He was taken by ambulance on a spinal board and in a collar to Ipswich Hospital. His injuries were considered to be quite serious.'

A Suffolk police spokesman said an officer had liaised with the site's health and safety advisor. The site was secured after the incident and investigators from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) were informed.

The Civil Nuclear Police, which protects nuclear sites and materials, also attended.

An HSE spokesman said: 'The HSE is aware of the incident and we are making initial inquiries.'