A MAN has been rushed to hospital after plunging from the balcony of a block of flats.

Emergency services rushed to an incident at a property in Warburton Road, Thornhill, Southampton, on Tuesday.

The police were called at 11.40am to reports that a man had been injured after suffering a fall.

Michael Murphy, a local resident who helped the man, described hearing a thud and then looking out of his ground-floor window to see a body on the floor.

The 42-year-old neighbour said: “I ran outside to help but did not want to move him in case he had any serious spinal injuries.

“He was demanding water and repeating himself.

“I tried to keep him calm so got him a blanket.

“I was shocked. I have never seen anything like it and I just hope he is ok. I can imagine he will be in hospital for quite a long time.”

He was later taken to hospital by road ambulance for treatment for serious back and pelvic injuries.

A spokesperson for South Central Ambulance Service (SCAS) confirmed a helicopter was called.

They said: “The Hampshire & Isle of Wight Air Ambulance did attend an incident on Warburton Road where an adult male had fallen from a second-floor balcony and sustained serious back and pelvic injuries.

“As well as the air ambulance we had a road ambulance, our pre-hospital consultant care practitioner in a rapid response vehicle and an ambulance officer in a rapid response vehicle at the scene.

“After initial treatment, the patient was taken by road to University Hospital Southampton.”

A Hampshire police spokesperson also confirmed a man had suffered serious injuries.

In a statement, a spokesperson for the force said: “We were called at 11.40am this morning with reports that a man had become injured after suffering a fall from height in Warburton Road.”