POLICE have launched an inquiry after a man plunged to his death from a bridge over busy dual carriageway in Hampshire.

Officers investigating the incident at Maybray King Way in Southampton are appealing for witnesses to the tragedy, which occurred in full view of passing motorists.

The 60-year-old Southampton man fell about 30ft and died from his injuries after landing on concrete.

Police and paramedics dashed to the scene amid reports that someone had toppled over a parapet and was in the middle of the road.

They found the badly-injured casualty lying on the central reservation beneath the bridge that carries West End Road and Peartree Avenue over the dual carriageway.

Paramedics fought to save the man’s life but police later confirmed that he had died from his injuries.

The outside lane of the eastbound carriageway was sealed off using cones and a police van, causing long delays in the area, as officers dealt with the emergency.

Last night traders based at a nearby parade of shops spoke of their shock and dismay after learning off the horrific incident.

They said it followed a similar tragedy involving a younger person at the same bridge several years ago.

One woman said: “Customers came in saying there was a man lying in the middle of the road with blood everywhere. Paramedics were pumping his chest and appeared to be giving him injections.

“There was no vehicle parked nearby so it looks as if he either jumped or fell from the bridge.

“It’s so sad – my heart goes out to his friends and family.”

Another trader added: “It must have been horrendous for the people who were driving past at the time. I can’t think of anything worse than someone falling from a bridge and landing near your car.”

Charlie Devereux, a student at Barton Peverell College in Eastleigh, was travelling home by bus when he noticed blue flashing lights.

Charlie, 18, said: “I saw three ambulances and two police cars. An officer standing on the bridge looked down at the cars on Maybray King Way

before rushing down towards the road.

“To me it looked as if someone had either jumped or been pushed off the bridge.”

A police spokesman said the man’s death was not being treated as suspicious. He added that his relatives had been told and a file was being prepared for the coroner.

The incident happened on the western side of the bridge at about 2.15pm.

A South Central Ambulance Service spokesman said: “The personnel involved worked on him for a considerable length of time before taking him to Southampton General Hospital, still in a life-threatening condition.”