A MAN is in a stable condition in hospital after he was crushed by a forklift truck in old Leigh.

The 23-year-old man, who was bringing in cockles at the time of the incident, was airlifted to the Royal London Hospital at 2.40pm.

The man was trapped by the neck in the incident, but fishermen came to his aid and used a cherry picker to move the forklift truck off him.

The East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust dispatched a rapid response vehicle, ambulance, paramedic officer and the Herts Air Ambulance to the scene

The man had suffered neck and chest injuries and was taken to the Royal London Hospital for further treatment.

Duty manager for EEAST, Darren Reeves who attended the incident, said: “Bystanders acted very quickly to help move the fork lift with a cherry picker, potentially saving this man’s life.

“The man was unconscious on our arrival, and emergency crews worked hard to stabilise him so that he could be airlifted to hospital.”

Full story in tomorrow's Echo.