A MAN has died after plunging more than 40ft from Worcester's St Martin's Gate car park.

Witnesses say the man, believed to be in his 50s, fell from the fifth storey of the six-storey car park at around 10.15am on Saturday as shoppers crowded into Worcester city centre.

He was still alive when emergency services arrived, but died two hours later in the accident and emergency department of Worcestershire Royal Hospital.

Sheila English, from Durham Road, Ronkswood, witnessed the event. She was returning to the car park after being shopping with her 12-year-old son Mark.

"We were waiting for the traffic lights to change when we saw a man jump and go flying to the ground.

"He landed on his side, face down in some undergrowth. He was obviously still alive then.

"Another witness went straight over to him and was asking his name, telling him not to move. Someone else called the ambulance."

Mrs English was stunned and shocked by what she had seen.

"I couldn't believe such a thing had happened," she said.

A spokesman for Hereford and Worcester Ambulance Service confirmed the man, who has not yet been named, was still alive when paramedics reached the scene.

"He was still conscious and we had him at the hospital by 10.45am," she added.

Inspector Clive Eastwood from South Worcestershire Police, said when officers arrived they found the man with injuries to his legs "consistent with falling from a great height".

But this morning police confirmed that the man had died from his injuries and are now seeking witnesses to the incident.

If anyone witnessed the incident - or saw anyone behaving in an unusual way before the man was discovered on the ground - they are asked to call Worcester Police on 08457 444 888, quoting 158S/050205.

The Coroner for Worcestershire, Victor Round, has been informed and a post mortem is expected shortly.

This is the second time in a month that someone has plunged to their death from a Worcester car park.

On January 10, 37-year-old assistant headteacher Ian Campbell from Townley in Warndon Villages jumped 40ft to his death from the top of Crowngate car park just 40 minutes after waving his wife goodbye and heading for work.