A MAN died after reportedly choking on fast food while walking along South-end High Street.

Passers-by were stunned to see the man collapse unconscious at the junction with Clifftown Road at about 6pm yesterday.

A rapid response ambulance team rushed to the scene and fought to resuscitate him, aided by members of the public.

However, the man, thought to be 40 years old, died on the way to Southend Hospital.

One woman, who witnessed the tragedy unfold while walking home from work, said: "I was shocked to see him lying there in the middle of the high street. I think he had been eating a takeaway and choked on a mouthful of food.

"He was just slumped on the floor and a woman had put him in the recovery position. I saw emergency crews working on him, but it was pretty obvious he was in a bad way. He seemed to be on his own.

"By the time the ambulance crew arrived there was around fifty people watching what was happening." Joy Hale, East of England Am-bulance Service spokeswoman, said a call was received from a member of the public at about 6pm and a rapid response vehicle and an ambulance crew were sent to the incident. She said: "The initial call that came in was to say a man had been found unconscious.

"When crews got to the scene it was obvious he was choking.

"Crews did their best to resuscitate him and worked on him both at the scene and en route to the hospital.

"Sadly, despite their best efforts, the man died on the way to Southend Hospital."