Horrified witnesses have described realising an elderly man had been dragged under a lorry to his death. 

Mourners from a nearby funeral and supermarket staff were among the first on the scene after the victim was struck crossing Wellesley Road, West Croydon, at 2.30pm yesterday.

The man, thought to have been in his 80s, died at the scene despite firefighters battling to free him from under the vehicle's wheels.

Elderly man killed by lorry outside church in West Croydon

Karthik Selvam, 27, team leader at a nearby Tesco Express, called 999 after a colleague alerted him to the collision but said he knew the victim had little chance of survival. 

He said today: "I heard something had happened and went to see. He was right underneath the truck. When I saw him I knew he was completely gone.

"It was horrible. I couldn't sleep last night. I feel so sorry for his family. It is so sad. He may well have been one of our regular customers but I couldn't see. He was lying face down."

Some witnesses said they believed the man had just left a funeral at St Mary's Catholic Church in Wellesley Road when he was killed.

Your Local Guardian:

Police erected a forensics tent for several hours following the collision

Tricia Meyers, who attended the funeral with her husband, said the lorry's driver did not appear aware of the collision at first.

She said "Our car was parked in direct view of the road and a relative saw this man go under and he shouted out. 

"My husband and this relative ran towards the driver as he was still in his seat waiting for the green light.

"In that moment we thought the man under the vehicle was alive and if he moved off the man would die. So they ran towards the driver waving their arms, then knocking on his window.

"Only after he got out of the vehicle and he came around and looked under the lorry did he realise. The other vehicles kept moving past as they did not know.

"It's when everyone started crowding around and looking under the lorry that it dawned on the motorists something serious has happened."

She added: "We don't know who the person is as no one from the funeral serviced found anyone missing, so he could've come by himself."

The lorry driver stopped afterwards and was not arrested.

Your Local Guardian:

Some witnesses suggested the victim had attended a funeral at St Mary's Catholic Church

Police today said the man's family had been informed but he had not yet been formally identified.

Detectives have appealed for witnesses to the collision, at the junction with Station Road, to come forward.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Metropolitan Police witness appeal line on 020 8285 1574.