Witnesses have described the horror of seeing a man hit by a telegraph pole which may have been rotten and was ripped over by strong winds.

The man, 27, was walking along Spanish Road, Wandsworth, on Monday when the pole crashed to the ground and struck him on the head just before 7pm.

Paramedics resuscitated him after he suffered a cardiac arrest and treated him for a head injury.

He was taken to St George's Hospital, Tooting, as a priority and is in a stable condition, an having improved since yesterday when his condition was described as "critical".

Witnesses have suggested the telegraph pole was rotten at the base, while winds measuring up to 40 mph battered the area that night.

Trefor Corfield, an off-duty firefighter, of Cheam, was driving down the road with his wife when he saw the man lying on the floor surrounded by people.

The 55-year-old, who works at Sutton Fire Station, gave him first aid before the London Ambulance Service arrived.

He said: "We first thought he was dead because of blood coming out of his head, he looked grey.

"I couldn't feel a pulse he was unresponsive. I turned him over his back and he had a heart pulse.

"Any earlier, it would have missed him. It's unbelievable it happened to this guy just as he was walking home."

Police, who cordoned off the area and have been liaising with the Health and Safety Executive, have not released the identity of the victim but said he lived locally.

BT, who owned the pole, has launched an investigation.

Asma Karim, 40, whose house is located next to the pole, said: "I saw what looked like a man lying on the floor, I think it was quite serious. There was a lot of blood.

"My children had come home and were walking across here.

"I am surprised nobody came in to warn us. It could've fallen into the house or the traffic if the wind was blowing the other way."

Neighbour Vickie Pilbeam, 75, said: "It's every week there's an accident there around that corner. It could've been anybody."

A spokesperson for BT said: "We are sorry to hear of this incident and our thoughts are with the man who was injured."