A TEENAGER was taken to hospital with spinal injuries after falling from a bridge when he tried to intervene in an argument in Malton.

The 18-year-old man fell several feet from the bridge at Castlegate after jumping over the railings, a spokesman for Malton Police said.

The incident happened at about 9.15pm last night, and the young man, who has not been named, was taken to York District Hospital.

"He was driving along Castlegate, in Malton, and pulled over on the bridge when he saw two people arguing on the footpath below the bridge," said a police spokesman.

"It appears he then tried to leap over the railings of the bridge and on to the footpath below.

"He misjudged the drop and landed badly and suffered injuries as a result."

A spokeswoman from the ambulance service said the young man had to be lifted to safety from the footpath by paramedics using a special spinal protection stretcher.

Updated: 10:51 Friday, September 07, 2001