Whisky saves life

- A British man who became trapped beneath his sofa for two days said he survived by sipping from a bottle of whisky - BBC News announced on its website.

Joe Galliott, 65, lost his bearings during a power cut at his home in Yeovil, Somerset, and fell against the three-seater which toppled onto him.

Because of back problems, he was unable to free his 19-stone frame and remained stuck for 60 hours until a neighbour spotted him through the curtains.

He said a bottle of whisky, which had rolled within reach, kept him going.

- The whole settee tipped over catching me like a rat in a trap. I took a sip of the whisky and thought, well this isn't too bad - said Galliott.

But after several hours without food or water, he admits, he became quite worried.

- It felt like a lifetime, you think you're there forever - he said.

The alarm was raised by a neighbour who had peered through the window, after becoming concerned that Mr Galliott's curtains had not been drawn for two days.

He spent five days recovering in hospital after his ordeal earlier this month.

Mr Galliott said he was keeping another bottle of whisky by the sofa "just in case."