A MAN was left in a “potentially serious condition” after falling from the Palace Pier.

The man reportedly “flipped into the sea” while leaning over the railings of the pier on Brighton seafront.

Members of the public were quick to help, with one person helping the man back to the beach while waiting for the emergency services to arrive.

Witness Ben Tennyson said that pier staff threw a lifesaver down to the man while a woman on the beach swam out to him, pulled him to shore and performed first aid.

He said a paddleboarder also helped get the man back to the beach.

Ben said: “A member of the pier’s staff helped by bringing down a first aid kit - I heard them say he had a broken collarbone and his ear was torn off and he had a hole in his neck.

“There was lots of blood on him.”

A spokeswoman for the Palace Pier said: “As far as we are aware, witnesses saw the gentleman leaning over the railings when he appeared to flip right over into the sea.

“The cast iron railings were solid and secure, so how he managed to push himself over is unclear.

“He was pulled from the water by witnesses and our security team carried out first aid until the ambulance arrived.”

A spokesman for ambulance service Secamb thanked people who stepped in to help before emergency services arrive and said: “Secamb was called at approximately 7pm on July 8 to reports that a person had fallen from the pier and was on the beach in need of medical attention.

“Ambulance crews attended and the person was assessed and treated before being taken to the Royal Sussex County Hospital in a potentially serious condition.”