A MAN was airlifted to hospital after suffering “serious” leg injuries during a corporate team building exercise at a Hampshire pub.

The casualty, aged in his 40s, was taking part in a tug-of-war contest at the New Forest Hotel in Lyndhurst Road, Ashurst, when the accident happened.

He was placed on a stretcher that had to be lifted over a stile before it could be carried to a waiting air ambulance.

Sue Newport was on a family day out when she arrived at the New Forest Hotel and witnessed the drama.

Mrs Newport said: “We were on our way from my brother’s house to the pub when we saw the helicopter, which flew very low before dipping down and landing about 30 metres from the pub garden.

“Someone said he was taking taking part in a team building exercise when he broke his ankle and possibly his leg, which appeared to be in a very awkward position.

“He looked very distressed and someone from his group was trying to reassure him.

“He was given oxygen and put on a drip. Once his condition had been stabilised the stretcher had to be lifted over a stile, which took two or three minutes, before it could be carried to the chopper.”

The incident happened just before 6pm on Friday.

A spokesman for Fuller, Smith and Turner, owners of the pub, said: “A guest at a function organised by a private company injured their ankle, which resulted in an ambulance being called.

“An air ambulance turned up and took the injured party to hospital.”

The spokesman declined to identify the company involved.