Businesses have rallied in support of a popular window cleaner who is fighting for his life after falling from the first floor of a building.

The man, believed to be in his 40s, fell from a building in Liverpool Terrace, Worthing, at about 11am yesterday and was airlifted to hospital with life-threatening head injuries.

He is a favourite with the firms in the road whose windows he cleans on a weekly basis using his mobile cleaning unit, which was cordoned off by police yesterday.

Jerome Ennis, partner at Green Wright Chalton Annis solicitors, which is based in the road, said: “It’s just dreadful to hear what has happened.

“He’s an absolutely wonderful guy, always friendly and chatty. It’s taken us all aback. We really are so sorry to hear about and we hope he recovers well and quickly.”

The emergency services were called to the incident at 11.36am.

A staff member from Asphaleia in Liverpool Terrace described how she saw emergency vehicles descend upon the usually quiet road.

Staff at John Dixon Salt Optometrist said the road was closed by Sussex Police from just after the accident until 1.15pm.

The injured man was put on a stretcher and taken by paramedics to Worthing beach where the air ambulance landed. He was airlifted to Royal London Hospital.

He fell from Sussex Chambers house, which is the base of European Medicines, Cheesemans Solicitors and Advocates, Insure For Travel and Talking Design.

Blood was cleaned from the pavement before the injured man’s family were brought by staff from Sussex Chambers.

Staff from Worthing and Adur Borough Council cleaned the scene of the incident thoroughly again later in the afternoon.

The incident has been passed from Sussex Police to the Health and Safety Executive to be investigated.