Avon Fire and Rescue crews rushed to the rescue last night after they received reports of a woman being hurt after becoming entangled in a bell ringing rope in Bathampton’s St Nicholas church.
The local woman, believed to be in her late 50s, became entangled in ropes and was left suspended 20ft (6m) in the air in the bell tower.
Fire crews were alerted by the Great Western Ambulance service at 9.45pm, who had administered morphine and made her comfortable while awaiting rescue at the scene.
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, where she was taken into the care of ambulance staff who took her to hospital with a suspected pelvic injury.
Crews were at the church for approximately an hour and a quarter making it safe.