EXPERTS are set to launch an investigation after a worker was left fighting for his life following an accident at a Hampshire industrial site.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) will examine how the man came to be crushed beneath a steel girder at Hythe Marine Park.

An air ambulance was called to the maritime industrial estate following the accident at around 11.30am yesterday.

A man in his fifties was flown to Southampton General Hospital with what were described as life-threatening injuries to his chest and legs.

He has not been named but is understood to come from the New Forest.

The accident happened at the southern end of the former RAF Hythe, which despite its title was used by the US Army.

As reported in the Daily Echo, RAF Hythe closed in 2006 with the loss of 200 civilian jobs but has since been reborn.

The casualty was wheeled out on a stretcher and placed aboard the air ambulance, which took off just before 1pm.

Witnesses said the aircraft had been at the industrial estate for between 40 minutes and an hour. They also reported seeing a police car and a land ambulance arrive at the scene in Shore Road, Hythe.

Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service said one of its co-responders was sent to the site following the accident.

A member of staff at nearby Waterside Blinds said: “We’re literally just across the road and heard a commotion but don’t know what happened.”

It comes 17 months after a man plunged from a ladder at Hythe Marine Park.

The emergency services were called to the site in February last year after he was seen falling from one part of the roof to another. Witnesses said he plunged about 10ft and screamed in pain.

Last night Hampshire Police confirmed that the latest incident would be investigated by the HSE.

One of the businesses based at Hythe Marine Park is the award-winning yacht company Green Marine, but an employee said the incident happened on another part of the site.

Solent Refit also occupies part of the facility. However, a spokesman said no-one from the firm was available for comment.

Hythe Marine Park overlooks Southampton Water and is currently being used to repair a former Wightlink ferry that is being upgraded by its new owners.

A police car could be seen parked nearby but it is not known if the ferry was involved in the incident.

An HSE spokesman was unable to confirm that the organisation had been told about the incident.

He said companies had ten days to report non-fatal incidents.