AN air ambulance was called to a housing estate after a builder suffered a ‘suspected medical episode’.

A land ambulance transported the man, believed to be in his 50s, from Weogoran Park, off Whittington Road, in Worcester, to Worcestershire Royal Hospital.

A spokesman for St Modwen, the developer for the estate, said the worker is still in hospital and believed to be in a stable condition.

The spokesman added: “A contractor working at Weogoran Park was taken ill and collapsed in a store room within the compound on site.  “The project manager found him and immediately contacted the emergency services.  The contractor was not undertaking any work activity at the time of his collapse.

“Safety on our sites is our highest priority. The site team responded swiftly to the situation to offer first aid services and followed the correct, planned emergency procedures.”

The developer wished the employee a speedy recovery.

Graham Chetwynd, aged 73, of Whitewood Way, Worcester, said: “The helicopter landed to the back of my house. It landed about 50 yards away. They are building new houses there.

“I wondered why an air ambulance was sent. The ambulance station on Spetchley Road is adjacent to the site where it happened.”

Mr Chetwynd said he spent 30 minutes taking pictures of the incident from his home.

A spokesman for West Midlands Ambulance Service added: "On arrival we discovered a man, believed to be in his 50s, who had suffered a suspected medical episode.

"He had a slightly reduced level of consciousness and following treatment at the scene, was transported to Worcester Royal Hospital by land ambulance.

“In all cases, we send what is believed to be the appropriate level of resource based on the information we are provided with on the 999 call.

“The air ambulance has a doctor on board, therefore offering an additional skillset to that of a paramedic which is sometimes necessary to help treat a patient, depending on the seriousness of their condition.

“Due to the relatively short distance required to transport the patient to hospital, it was quicker to take them by land ambulance than air ambulance on this occasion.”

The ambulance service received a report about the incident at just before 2.20pm on Tuesday, March 13.

The land ambulance arrived at the scene at 2.31pm, followed by the helicopter at 2.34pm.