A MAN is in an induced coma after being found in the street with serious injuries.

Detectives have launched an investigation into how the 22-year-old’s injuries came about.

Police had been called to Haslingden at 2.30pm yesterday after a passerby found the man at the base of a 30ft wall off Blackburn Road, close to St James Church.

The white man was initially conscious and breathing but his condition deteriorated on the way to hospital and he had to be put into an induced coma. He remains in Royal Preston Hospital today with various fractures and internal injuries.

Detective Inspector Scott Waddington, of East CID, said: “This young man has suffered some very serious injuries and we are trying to piece together what has happened to him.

“At this stage there is no evidence to suggest third party involvement in this case however in the absence of any other explanation a number of further enquiries will be necessary to establish the full circumstances.”

Residents who live on Blackburn Road said they were ‘shocked’ by the news.

Matt Forrester, 33, who has lived in the area for only two weeks, said: “My partner and I had gone out to the John Street co-op shortly before 2.30pm when we saw a man at the foot of a giant wall.

“He was a white man who had blood around his face. I thought he had been hit by a car because there was a lot of traffic in the area.

“A crowd of people stood around him and five minutes later an ambulance and rapid response unit arrived.

“It was really quite shocking to see. We have only just moved to the area and this is not something you expect to happen.”

Another resident added: “I saw a lot of traffic outside the house in the afternoon and police activity but didn’t know what had happened. I hope the man gets well soon.”

Anyone with information can call police on 101 quoting log number 0762 of December 5.