A 57-YEAR-OLD painter was today due to undergo more tests in hospital after suffering a suspected fractured skull when he fell from scaffolding at the New Wolsey Theatre in Ipswich.

A 57-YEAR-OLD painter was today due to undergo more tests in hospital after suffering a suspected fractured skull when he fell from scaffolding at the New Wolsey Theatre in Ipswich.

As revealed in later editions of The Evening Star, the workman was airlifted to Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, after he fell 20ft while working on a Suffolk theatre's restoration.

The accident, which happened just after 12 noon yesterday at theatre in Civic Drive, where work has been ongoing for the last two weeks as part of a £725,000 refurbishment and renovation project being carried out over the summer.

Dr Victor Inyang , an A&E consultant from the James Paget Hospital who was on board the helicopter for the first time, described the dramatic incident.

“We had a gentleman who had fallen 20ft and suffered quite a significant brain injury,” he said. “It appeared that he had suffered a fractured skull.

“He responded to voice, but he really didn't know where he was. Given the height of the fall and the appearance of his skull there was concern about bleeding inside the head.

“We gave him an anaesthetic and intubated him, before taking him off to Cambridge.”

An East of England Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “The man's condition was stabilised on scene before he was taken to the helicopter and then flown to the specialist head injury unit.

“His condition on arrival at hospital was said to be stable and he was due to undergo a number of tests to establish the full extent of his injuries.

Sharon Jenkins, spokeswoman for The New Wolsey Theatre said yesterday that work had been suspended and there would be an investigation into the accident.

A spokeswoman for the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) confirmed that they had launched an investigation into the incident.