A TEENAGER was rushed to hospital after plunging 30ft from the window of an empty factory in Port Glasgow.

Paramedics and police attended at the former Playtex building in Gareloch Road just before 6.30pm on Monday night.

Police confirmed that a 14-year-old boy was taken to hospital suffering from serious leg and head injuries following a freak accident.

It is understood that he fell from a window and onto concrete steps.

The Tele was informed that the youngster, who is believed to be a pupil at St Stephen’s High School in Port Glasgow, is in a stable condition in hospital.

The exact extent of his injuries are unknown.

The serious incident has prompted fresh calls from a concerned councillor that the disused factory poses a risk and should be torn down immediately.

Sergeant Laura Stewart, of Greenock Police, said: “We received a call from an ambulance crew and attended the scene at about 6.30pm.

“It appears that a 14-year-old boy had fallen from a window.

“He was taken by ambulance to hospital, initially the IRH, but then transferred to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Glasgow.

“Staff confirmed to us that he had suffered leg and head injuries.”

Paramedics were first on the scene.

A spokesman from the Scottish Ambulance Service said: “We received a call at 6.28pm and dispatched one ambulance to the scene.

“One male patient in his teens was taken to the Inverclyde Royal Hospital.”

Just last month, the Tele highlighted safety concerns over the derelict factory buildings in Devol Industrial Estate.

Local resident Catherine McGhee reported how she feared youngsters were putting their lives at risk by climbing into the AMP building which is on the same site.

She said: “It’s a health hazard. All it would take would be someone to fall through a floor and badly hurt themselves.”

Earlier this month, Councillor David Wilson also voiced his concerns.

He supports proposals brought forward by Inverclyde Council as part of the Inverclyde Local Development Plan to demolish the vacant buildings and make way for houses.

Speaking yesterday, he said: “I’m sorry to hear that somebody has been injured.

“It’s hardly surprising though as they have left the buildings in such a state.

“At least the council is trying to do something about it.”
Councillor Wilson says the buildings should be demolished sooner rather then later.

He added: “This re-emphasises the point that the council, quite rightly in the local plan, is intending to do something about these derelict buildings and to reallocate the land for housing.

“That should mean the buildings are demolished and the sooner the better.

“I previously tried to contact the building’s owners about graffiti and they just never came back to me.”