A MAN has been seriously injured after a tree stump fell on his shoulder while working in Southend. 
It is believed the man, aged in his 40s, was working for the company Tree Fellas at the time of the incident at the junction of Woodgrange Drive and Marlborough Road, Southend.
The incident happened around 8.30am yesterday morning and the road was temporarily closed.  
An Ambulance spokesman said: "A man, in his 40s was hit by a stump on his shoulder and suffered a serious injury to his shoulder and abdomen.
"It appears the man was working on the tree at the time.
"The patient was airlifted to Royal London Hospital for further treatment. His injuries are serious but not believed to be life threatening."
Faye Mills, from Redstock Road in Southend was cleaning a house just metres away from where the incident happened. 
The 30-year-old said: “I turned up just before 8.30am and spoke to one of the workmen before I went into the house. 
“I saw one man in a tree and six underneath. 
“I soon saw all the flashing lights through the window and came out the house. It must have been really bad because the air ambulance had to come, there was an ambulance and the police closed the road for two hours.
I made the rest of the workmen drinks after it happened – it was one of their colleagues and must have been traumatising. 
“Obviously it was an accident but the thought of them getting back into a tree is scary."
Another resident, who lives nearby, said they saw the police racing to the scene. 
She said: "I saw the police speed to the scene and the road was closed off pretty quickly. 
"It must have been pretty bad because the air ambulance landed in the park." 
Police were on the scene of the incident. A spokesman said: “Police were called by the ambulance to an industrial incident in Woodgrange Drive in Southend just after 8.35am today.
“A man, who is believed to be in his 40s, was injured by a falling tree stump. He has been flown to the Royal London Hospital with serious injuries.
“The Health and Safety Executive was called to the scene.”
The Echo contacted Tree Fellas for the story but they declined to comment.
Anyone with any information is asked to contact Essex Police on 101 and people can also give information to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or via an anonymous online form at www.crimestoppers-uk.org.