A DOCTOR who rushed to help a boy who had been hit by a bus said he drew on his past experience working in A&E to help him treat the youngster.

Dr Jagdish Chavda, who works at Canvey Health Centre, in Third Avenue, was midway through afternoon surgery when a receptionist rushed into his office to say a ten-year-old boy had been hit by a bus outside.

He said: “When the receptionist told me there had been an accident just outside the surgery I went out straight away to see if I could help. I saw the boy on the ground and the bus about five yards away.

“There was a small group of people standing nearby, including a patient I had just seen, and I was told what had happened.

“In this situation it was my job to ensure there is no immediate risk to life and to keep the patient calm.

“I kept talking to him and told him help was on its way. Luckily, there was no immediate danger, but I still stayed with him for an hour.”

The boy was later airlifted to the Royal London Hospital after paramedics had treated him at the scene for more than an hour.

The boy received head injuries which were not life-threatening and was yesterday still receiving treatment in hospital.

Dr Chavda spent two years working in casualty at Southend Hospital, having spent ten years in a similar post at a Halifax hospital.

He said: “I am lucky my background prepared me for this situation.

I have dealt with major incidents in the past and that past experience was very handy in this situation.

“I wanted to help in any way I could.”

The First bus driver, who was involved in the collision, was badly shaken by the incident.

The road did not reopen until after 7pm.

Any witnesses who have not yet spoken to the police are asked to call PC Claire Pollard at Laindon Road policing unit on 101 or they can e-mail 70767@ essex.pnn.police.uk