A man dragged himself along on his elbows to get help after suffering horrific injuries in a hit-and-run.

Dad-of-three Lee Robson, 48, has just undergone major surgery on his leg after it was smashed in a collision with a white van.

It happened as he was reaching into his car to get his mobile phone.

The driver initially got out and said he would call an ambulance before driving off.

When one did not arrive, despite being in agony, Mr Robson dragged himself on his elbows to his flatmate in Harmer Street, Gravesend.

Making a desperate plea to find the driver, his sister, Helen Chambers, said her brother may struggle to walk normally again and would not be able to carry on working as a builder.

She said: “For being in the wrong place at the wrong time it has changed his life forever.

“I don’t know how whoever did this can live with themselves. Not only will he be unable to work again, he will probably lose his flat and he has to look out for his children.”

Mr Robson was taken to Darent Valley Hospital, but on Friday was transferred to the specialist St Peter’s Hospital in Chertsey, Surrey, for an operation to rebuild his right leg from the knee downwards.

He had been leaning into his car, a blue Renault Megane, in Harmer Street when it is believed the van mounted the pavement, taking out a lamp post and parking restriction sign.

Mr Robson had been to visit his ex-partner and three children – Olivia, 20, Alana, 13, and Leo, 11 – in Dartford and was about to return to his flat when he noticed he had not got his phone.

Mrs Chambers, 47, an insurance broker, has turned detective in a bid to track down the driver.

The mother-of-two, of Brentfield Road, Dartford, said: “Some have said they thought they saw the van loop round the block twice. I have talked to shopkeepers who have been very helpful and let me look at hours of CCTV footage.

"It would have been quite busy at the time. Somebody must have seen this.

“I don’t believe he did this deliberately or that he is a villain but he is dangerous and needs to be caught.

“My brother’s leg is a mess and he has a hell of a road ahead of him.

“Please help in any way you can. As you can imagine his family and children are in bits over this.”

The accident happened between 7.45pm and 8pm on Friday, December 16.

A police spokesman said: “Kent Police was called at 8.03pm on Friday, December 16, 2016 following a collision involving a van and a stationary car in Harmer Street, Gravesend.

“Officers attended and carried out inquiries to locate the van, which had left the scene. It remains outstanding.

“Anyone with information can call 01474 366149 quoting reference 16-1304.”