A MAN is fighting for his life in hospital after falling 50ft from a fourth-floor balcony at a block of flats in Southampton.

Police have arrested a 28-year-old woman in connection with the incident, which happened at around 1.30am today in Keynsham Road, Bitterne.

The 34-year-old man was taken to Southampton General Hospital where he remains in a serious condition. It is understood he suffered spinal and pelvic injuries and fractured ribs.

It is understood he landed on a grass section and rolled to the bottom of a ditch.

Neighbours were roused from the beds at the commotion and helped the emergency services find the man.

One neighbour said: “He looked in a severe amount of pain. He was taken away by paramedics on one of those boards.

“The commotion woke me. They were making a racket to begin with anyway. Then just a moment later I heard a lady shouting.

“I'd gone down just to try and help the ambulance, he was hidden down behind the flats. He lay at the bottom of a ditch.

“I have no idea of his injuries but he didn't look good. If it was concrete I think it would have been a different outcome.”

One woman who lives on the ground floor in the block but didn't want to be named, said: "The first I heard about it was when they came screaming knocking on the doors for help.

"He looked bad the way he fell he wouldn't be surprised if he can't walk again the way he was laid on the ground."

Another elderly female neighbour said: "There was screaming and shouting. It was terrible. I was woken from my sleep by the noise thinking, 'My god, what's going on?'. We're very quiet in this block of flats, this is very unusual."

One woman, who lives across the road, was woken by the sound of voices in the middle of the night.

She said: "I heard lots of shouting and screaming. I heard voices, I though it was coming from the allotment. Then the ambulances came and the lights were flashing."

Officers are speaking to neighbours to establish how the fall happened and anyone with information should call Bitterne CID on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.