AN ELDERLY man sustained possible lifethreatening injuries in a fall at a Hampshire recycling centre.

The 85-year-old was climbing some concrete steps when he fell backwards and hit his head.

Emergency services were called out shortly before 3pm yesterday.

Police said, given the man’s age and the fact that it was a head injury, it was being treated as possibly life-threatening.

The man had been with his daughter at the household waste recycling centre, in Bunny Lane, Timsbury, near Romsey. It is understood he was climbing the steps to put items into the big recycling containers when he fell.

South Central Ambulance Service said it had sent an emergency practitioner, ambulance doctor, ambulance crew and a co-responder to the scene.

The man was taken to Southampton General Hospital.

Police said they were treating it as an industrial accident and had referred the incident to the Health and Safety Executive. The Health and Safety Executive said it was making initial inquiries.

Hopkins Recycling Ltd, based in Botley, runs the site on behalf of Hampshire County Council.

Managing director Kevin Hopkins said his health and safety team were investigating.