9am Briefing: Spinal fears for man rushed to hospital after 20ft fall

A MAN was rushed to hospital last night with suspected spinal injuries after falling 20ft down a gap between a building and a grass embankment.

Firefighters were called to Leith Street at 6.15pm after the man, in his 30s, landed at the bottom of the gap next to an unoccupied building. Firefighters helped paramedics remove the man through a fire exit of the building. He was taken to the ERI.

Couple tell of quake fears

A SCOTTISH couple who survived the devastating earthquake in Chile had to flee to higher ground to escape the threat of a tsunami.

David Sandercock, 24, from Edinburgh, and his girlfriend Kirsty Duff, also 24, from Stonehaven, finally made contact with their families and friends on Monday night, three days after they were reported missing following the massive 8.8 magnitude quake.

The couple, both graduates of Stirling University, had been on a surfing holiday in the coastal resort of Pichilemu.

Despite their ordeal, it was reported that the couple have no plans to immediately return home.

Homes evacuated after gas leak

AROUND 12 homes in Armadale were evacuated in the early hours of this morning after a suspected gas leak.

Several families living in Birkenshaw Way were woken by police at 2am and moved to the homes of family and friends as a precaution. The source of the gas leak is not yet known.

Swinney in Hub visit

FINANCE Secretary John Swinney is today set to visit the Edinburgh Festivals headquarters at The Hub to launch the latest phase of the Scottish Government's economic recovery plan and stress the importance of tourism.

He was briefed by Festival bosses on the new Edinburgh Festivals "passport", an initiative which will allow travel operators to offer visitors a package of tickets for shows.

Mr Swinney said: "The Scottish economy has not been immune from the deepest recession in a generation, but it is resilient."