BURRILLVILLE, R.I. (AP) – Police say rescue crews have freed a worker whose left arm became stuck in a meat grinder at a Burrillville meat company.

Rescue crews were able to get him out shortly after 4:30 p.m. Police Colonel Bernard Gannon says the 20-year-old man was stuck up to his shoulder in the meat grinding machine for about two-and-a-half hours, and was alert and talking during the ordeal.

The man was taken to Rhode Island Hospital. Gannon says he doesn’t know the extent of the man’s injuries.

The accident happened at a plant for the Italian-style meat company Daniele (dan-YEL’).

The company did not immediately return a phone message seeking comment.

AP-ES-09-05-07 1731EDT