A boy reportedly been run over by a circus truck in a Brighton park this afternoon has been airlifted to hospital.
The youngster, aged eight, was reportedly in the traveller camp which has been on Preston Park since Saturday when he was hit.
A witness said he had blood on his arm and was screaming while waiting for ambulances to arrive.
Seven police cars arrived soon after, and the driver of the truck was spoken to. Meanwhile, the child was taken by air ambulance to Southampton.
The truck belongs to Circus Berlin, which is due to open tomorrow for a five-day run. It said it was helping police with their enquiries, and that public safety was its top priority.
Park user Giles Gailer said: “I arrived about 30 seconds after the accident. The child has blood on his arm and is screaming in pain.
“The driver was stuck in mud. There was no health and safety. Nobody to guide the truck.
“The travellers have been there since Saturday. They were moved to the path. The truck drove through the traveller camp and over the child.
“There’s several trucks on the park and no roped off area.
“This was inevitable. Cars are always driving over this park.
“I think it should have strict control. A clear sectioned area for cars – this hasn’t happened.”
A spokesman for Sussex Police said: “Police responded to a report of a collision between a lorry and a pedestrian in Preston Park, Brighton, at 1.34pm.
“The victim, a boy believed to be aged eight, sustained serious, but not life-threatening injuries and has been taken to hospital for treatment.
“The vehicle has been secured and the driver is assisting police as enquiries continue.
“Anyone who witnessed the incident or captured footage of it is asked to email collision.appeal@sussex.police.uk quoting serial 732 of 09/05.”
A spokesman for South East Coast Ambulance Service said: “We were called to reports of a collision involving a vehicle and a pedestrian on Preston Road shortly before 1.30pm today.
“Ambulance crews attended and were joined by the Kent, Surrey, Sussex Air Ambulance Service. The pedestrian, a child, has been airlifted to hospital in Southampton.”
A spokeswoman for Circus Berlin said: “We are aware of the incident and we are currently assisting the police with their investigation.
“Public safety is always our number one priority.
A council spokesman said: “We were very sorry to hear of this incident, and hope the person injured makes a swift recovery.
“Sometimes vehicles need to move across public parks in order to reach event spaces. This normally happens without incident.
“The rules around this are clear. All vehicles moving in public spaces are limited to 10mph on paths and 5mph in all other areas.
“If they are outside of a controlled and fenced zone they should be accompanied by a banksman at all times.
“We cannot comment on the specifics of today’s incident.”
