KENT police are still appealing for witnesses after a lorry driver lost control of his vehicle and tumbled down an embankment into a storm drain.

The incident happened on the M2 at Blue Bell Hill, near Chatham. The lorry driver, who is in 40s, was airlifted to hospital by a Kent Air Ambulance crew.

A spokesman for Medway Ambulance, who initially attended the scene and helped stabilise the driver until the air ambulance arrived, said that he was fortunate to be alive as he had received multiple injuries.

An off-duty firefighter, sub officer Alan Monk who is stationed at Strood, helped comfort the driver. He said: "I was driving down the motorway with my family and saw the lorry down the embankment. I pulled over and ran down the bank and got into the water which was about a foot deep.

"I smashed the window to gain access and started speeaking to the driver. I could see he was in a no immediate danger and comforted him until the emergency services arrived."

The road was slippery which is believed to be what caused the accident.

An air ambulance spokesman said: "All the emergency services worked well together to ensure that the patient received the best care and treatment and he was rapidly transported to hospital."

One eye witness, Pat Melrose, from Gravesend said: "I saw a lorry behind me spin out of control. It spun and went down the embankment. It was a shock to see it, but it was too late for me to stop because I had already turned off.

"The lorry driver behind him stopped and ran out of the lorry to see what had happened."