Butcher minutes from death after getting stuck in a freezer fought his way out with a BLACK PUDDING

A BUTCHER who was just minutes from death after getting locked into his freezer managed to battle his way out - using a frozen BLACK PUDDING.

Chris McCabe, 70, from Devon, thought he was for the chop after he got locked in his own walk-in freezer which stores meat at temperatures of -20C.

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But with time running out in the freezer, he grabbed the only tool he could find - a 1.5kg black pudding made by the Queen's butcher HM Sheridan of Ballater.

Quick-thinking Chris hit away at the lock with the frozen pudding until eventually, the lock broke.

Dad-of-four Chris said: "Black pudding saved my life, without a doubt.

"No one could hear me banging because it is outside, round the back of the shop."

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Meat is frozen solid in the freezer in just half an hour, and although Chris was only stuck for a few minutes during the incident on 15 December, he believes he would have died within half an hour.

He added: "The black pudding was the best thing to hit the button with because it was the right shape.

"I used it like the police use battering rams to break door locks in, that's what I did with the black pudding."

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Chris's brush with death started when winds blew the door of the freezer shut - and unluckily for him, the emergency release button had frozen over.

He frantically looked around for something to save him - but couldn't find anything to de-ice the emergency release.

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The lamb was too big and the beef didn't afford enough grip, and Chris said he had all but given up hope he spotted his last black pudding.

He said: "They weigh 1.5kg and they are a big long stick that you can just about get your hand around.

"I managed to get in a position to bash the button a few times until the ice broke and the door opened."

As well as saving his life, Chris also credits the humble black pudding with being the perfect accompaniment for a fried breakfast.