A MAN has been arrested over an incident where a man was found critically injured on a busy New Forest road at the weekend.

Hampshire Police confirmed a 21-year-old man from Southampton had been arrested on suspicion on dangerous driving.

The 21-year-old was bailed until June 25.

The 51-year-old was found with serious head injuries on the A35 at Holmsley on Saturday afternoon.

Witnesses say he fell from the back of a fairground tea cup ride that was being towed by a pick-up truck.

Police confirmed at around 4.15pm, a red Nissan Navara was travelling along the A35 through Burley Manor crossroads, towing a fairground ride.

After it passed through the crossroads, the driver of another vehicle a few cars back spotted the injured man lying in the road. 

Officers say the man, who is from Kent, sustained severe head injuries and are appealing for anyone with information about the incident to come forward. 

Sergeant Adrienne Jerram from Hampshire Constabulary said: “We are particularly keen to speak to anyone who saw the red Nissan Navara towing the ride as it travelled from Christchurch Quay, through Somerford and on the A35 towards Lyndhurst.

“We would like to know if anyone noticed anything unusual about the vehicle or its trailer.”

A nurse reportedly rushed to help the casualty after she saw him fall onto the busy road from a tea cup ride.

It’s understood the woman, who had been driving with her husband and three children to a wedding reception at the time, administered CPR at the scene at the scene. 

One of her relatives said: “It’s amazing what she has done. It could have saved his life. I think she approached it like her work and just wanted to help. Who knows what might have happened if she wasn’t there.”

A spokesperson from the South Central Ambulance Service said both the land ambulance and air ambulance attended the incident and the casualty was taken to Southampton General Hospital via land ambulance in a “critical condition.”

The road was closed for four hours both ways between Station Road and the B3058 in Holmsley while police examined the scene.

Yesterday, a spokesman from Hampshire Constabulary said the man remained in hospital with life-threatening injuries.

Paul Jenson, owner of the nearby Old Station Holmsley Tea Rooms, said: "The first I knew of something happening was the air ambulance arriving. It was horrible.

"I've heard that a few people rushed out to help a man and performed CPR before the emergency services arrived.

"There were a lot of police here investigating." 

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Serious Collision Investigation Unit at Eastleigh police station on 101, quoting Operation Classical.