A MAN was airlifted to hospital with serious injuries after being involved in a collision with a bus.

The incident happened just before 2.20pm yesterday on the packed Weymouth Esplanade close to the Jubilee Clock.

The man, believed to be in his 30s, suffered wounds to his face, chest and shoulder.

Police said it was thought he had suffered a ‘possible serious head injury.’ The road was closed and traffic around the town came to a standstill as emergency services worked.

Paramedics took the casualty to a nearby sports field – believed to be The Marsh – where an air ambulance flew him to Southampton General Hospital.

Shocked eyewitnesses spoke of their sadness after the incident.

One, who had attempted to help the injured man in the moments that followed the collision, said: “When I approached him he was sat up and he was talking, he had blood on his face he was obviously hurt.”

The eyewitness said that he had seen one ambulance bike arrive before the rest of the ambulance crew arrived and then the man was taken away.

The eyewitness added that he believed that the pedestrian was part of a larger group of people that were on the seafront.

A spokesman for the air ambulance said: “We got reports that a male was hit by a bus on the Esplanade in Weymouth.

“We got the call at 2.25pm. We sent land vehicles and the air ambulance also attended.

“He was flown to Southampton General Hospital.

“He sustained face, shoulder and chest injuries.”

The ambulance crews left the scene just after 3pm.

A spokesman for the First bus company said: “We are aware of the incident and are helping police with the investigation.”

Sandra Reay, 68, is the owner of The Channel Guest House along the seafront. She said that she had not seen anything but she had overheard customers discussing the incident later that afternoon.

She said that accidents did not happen very often around the Esplanade.

She said: “It’s busy with traffic and busy with people but we don’t get many accidents, in fact very few accidents.

“I thought it must be serious for the air ambulance to be called."

A spokesman for the air ambulance said: “We got reports that a male was hit by a bus on the Esplanade in Weymouth.

“We got the call at 2.25pm. We sent land vehicles and the air ambulance also attended.

“He sustained face, shoulder and chest injuries.”

The casualty had reached the hospital by 4.30pm.

The ambulance crews left the scene just after 3pm.

A spokesperson for the First bus company said: “We are aware of the incident and are helping police with the investigation.”