A man who drank antifreeze and then fled from the scene has been found in a “life-threatening” condition.

Witnesses dialled 999 after Paul Blaikie was seen drinking the “potentially fatal” substance on St Helen’s Road in Hastings early yesterday morning.

Police and paramedics arrived at the scene |and attempted to administer treatment to the 36-year-old.

Mr Blaikie was beginning to lose his vision at this point but fled from those trying to help him.
Helicopter

He triggered a mass search of the area involving a police helicopter, officers and search and rescue volunteers sweeping the Alexandra Park area.

At this point Hastings Police made a public appeal and Sergeant Paul Elrick said they were “very concerned” for his welfare.

Sgt Elrick added: “We are advised that the amount of anti-freeze that he is believed to have ingested could prove extremely harmful and if not treated promptly, could be fatal.

“Indeed, we have been informed that his eyesight was already affected when he was being treated and |it could well appear that |he is very drunk or comatose.

Mr Blaikie was described as in need of immediate medical treatment and residents were urged to call 999 if they saw him.

Following an extensive search he was found just before 2pm – having been missing for nearly four hours.

Mr Blaikie was found in Alexandra Park near its border with St Helen’s Road and was taken to the Conquest Hospital in St Leonards-on-Sea where he was described as being in a life-threatening condition last night.

Antifreeze is an industrial chemical additive that lowers the freezing point of water-based liquid and is made by mixing distilled water with industrial alcohol.

Consuming antifreeze can result in ethylene glycol poisoning and it is used as an additive in bootleg alcohol.

There have also been reports of antifreeze being used to poison pets.