A YOUNG father died after being crushed in a vacuum press machine at a Westhoughton factory - as his best friend battled for more than 20 minutes to free him.

Philip Ashcroft, who had just celebrated his 22nd birthday, was eventually released after colleagues used a fork lift truck to prize open the two metal plates which trapped his upper body.

The accident happened at Barkston Plastic Forming at the Wingates Industrial Estate, Wimberry Hill, Westhoughton.

His best friend Lee Edwards even risked his own life to free Philip from the machine.

Philip was treated at the scene by paramedics before being taken to hospital where he lost his fight for life 10 hours later after surgery.

And today as his stunned family, of St John's Road, Aspull, were coming to terms with his death, his heartbroken father, John said: "He was a quiet lad who was well liked by everyone. He loved his work and was never in any trouble.

"He went to work yesterday as normal. I just said 'See you later'. I never thought anything else about it until Lee came round to tell me that he had been taken to hospital.

" I was too shocked to think straight."

Arsenal soccer fan Philip, a former pupil at Standish High School who has a 14-year-old brother, Warren, was also a keen fisherman who travelled the country fishing for pike and carp.

The young father, who had a two-year-old daughter called Lauren but lived at home with his dad, was taken to the Royal Bolton Hospital at 11am before being transferred to the North Manchester General Hospital where he died last night.

Mr Ashcroft and life-long friend Lee, also aged 22, were at his bedside as he lost his 10-hour fight for life.

Surgeons where unable to repair his crushed liver. He had also suffered a punctured lung and his heart failed. He died at 8.45pm.

Mr Ashcroft said: "Lee was Philip's best friend. They grew up together. He is devastated.

"Lee had got Philip his job at the factory three months ago and Philip loved it. Doctors have told me that Philip must have been stuck for a long time because of the extent of his injuries.

"He was calling for help shouting 'Lee, get me out of here.' They used crow bars but it didn't work. They then got a forklift truck. To watch your best friend suffer in that way must be horrible."

It is believed that Lee even risked his own life to climb between a gap made in the two metal plates as colleagues attempted to prize open the press using crowbars.

Today, as a Health and Safety Executive investigation was launched, a company spokesman said workers at the factory were in a state of shock and mourning.

The company spokesman added: "It is tragic. We are all very upset. A lot of Mr Ashcroft's friends are staying off work today and some were with him when he died last night.

"It would be inappropriate to comment any further as an investigation has been launched."