A WORKMAN has been airlifted to hospital with serious head injuries after falling 15ft while working on a construction site this morning. 

Ambulance and fire crews as well as police attended the incident shortly after 8.30am at Stanmer House near Stanmer Park.

A police spokesman said: “The workman had fallen some 15 to 20 ft to the ground and had sustained a serious head injury. He has been taken by air ambulance to St Georges Hospital, Tooting. Police and the Health and Safety Inspectorate will be looking into the circumstances.”

Eye-witnesses reported seeing up to five police cars and jeeps in the park as emergency services worked swiftly to make the area safe.

John Lawrance, a member of the Stanmer Park Preservation Society, said: “I walk by dog there every day but the road was blocked and we were kept back. I’ve never seen the air ambulance in action before and it was quite a shock seeing it land on the cricket pitch.”

Stanmer House waitress Amy Williams, 18, of Brighton, said: “We heard lots of noise and saw lots of emergency services arrive. Some of the customers watched from the window as the man was lifted into the air ambulance.”

And colleague Yolanda Ray, 22, also of Brighton, said: “We tried to keep out of the way and just look after the customers. The emergency services dealt with the situation really well.”

An HSE spokesman confirmed an investigation had been launched, he said he could not comment further.

Mr Holland, also the proprietor of The British Engineerium museum, in The Droveway, told The Argus he was “in shock” after the news

Simon Caplin, Cherrywood Investment’s office manager, said: “We are terribly upset. Our thoughts go out to David and his family and we naturally hope he is able to make a full recovery.”

Planning permission to convert the buildings into seven two bedroom houses and one two bedroom flat was granted by Brighton and Hove City Council in January last year.