AN elderly man plunged to his death while riding a mobility scooter out of a doctors’ surgery.

The 82-year-old man fell 12ft from a covered walkway outside Fareham Health Centre in Osborn Road.

Police say he had left the building through automatic double doors and his mobility scooter smashed through the first floor walkway’s glass walls.

The scooter, surrounded by shattered glass and wood, could be seen on its side with its lights still on after the accident, which happened at around 2.50pm yesterday.

 

A police cordon was set up around the scene as detectives worked to establish how the accident had happened.

Shocked shoppers and employees from nearby Fareham Shopping Centre, the town’s library, council offices and Ferneham Hall saw the aftermath of the accident as they left work.

Dan Stratton, 30, from Osborn Road South in Fareham, said he saw the mobility scooter soon after it had crashed to the ground.

He said: “I saw his buggie was on its side and everyone was gathered round it.

“He was on the ground – he was out cold. He was just lying there.”

Dr Richard Polson, 53, from Botley, said he heard the commotion from where he works at the nearby Osborn Centre.

He said: “I heard a bit of shouting and I think I heard the sound of something falling. It sounded like a bit of roof falling off.”

Paramedics and the air ambulance were called to the scene but the man, from Fareham, was pronounced dead.

Staff at the health centre, which is currently undergoing a refurbishment, told the Daily Echo they were unable to comment.

Inger Hebden from Southampton , Hampshire, Isle of Wight and Portsmouth Primary Care Trust Cluster said in a statement: “Everyone at the health centre is shocked and saddened by what has happened.

“We will, of course, do all we can to assist the police in their investigation.”

Detective Sergeant Fiona Wright from Fareham CID said they were working with the Health and Safety Executive to investigate what happened.

She said: “The man had exited the building through the double doors. His mobility scooter then went through the glass wall of the walkway.

“Sadly, he fell to the ground and was pronounced dead at the scene.

“We are conducting an investigation into the circumstances of the incident and are working with our colleagues in the Roads Policing unit and the Health and Safety Executive.

“I would like to hear from anyone who witnessed what happened or who can help with our enquiries.”

Anyone with information should call Fareham police station on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.