A 46-year-old man was working on a roof of a single-story house in Tampa when he lost his balance and fell, landing on a metal post in a chain link fence that impaled him in the left hip area, according to Tampa Fire Rescue.

The accident happened about 6 p.m. at 3101 E McBerry St. When Tampa Fire Rescue paramedics arrived, he appeared to be straddling the fence. They realized he was impaled and called for backup.

Paramedics helped to lift his weight off the fence without taking him off of the post, which was embedded about 6 to 8 inches in his hip and pelvis area. Awake and alert, the man told rescuers what happened.

For about 20 minutes, rescuers worked to cut away the fence and post before placing him, with the post still in his body, on a stretcher. He was airlifted to Tampa General Hospital, where he is in serious condition.

It was unclear whether he lived at the house or was working there. Tampa Fire Rescue did not release his name.

Photo courtesy of Tampa Fire Rescue.