An eyewitness has described how a stricken parachutist bravely shouted warnings at people below him, before crash-landing at the Kent County Show.

The onlooker said the parachutist - who sustained suspected spinal injuries in the jump - had struggled to control his descent in gusty conditions before colliding with a metal electrical box and "bouncing" into some metal railings.

Others said several members of the Tigers parachute team, from the Princess of Wales' Royal Regiment, had "struggled" with blustery conditions during the display jump at Detling, on Friday.

The injured man landed on the edge of the show ground's agricultural ring, hundreds of metres away from the army team's intended landing site.

"I was eating my lunch, and saw them jump" said the witness, who did not wish to be named, "as the first one came out the wind took him and he flew across here like hell for leather.

"He just missed the trees."

"The second one went the other way; then the wind caught him and pulled him back.

"He shouted 'look out' - quite bravely I thought - then he bounced into the generator and hit the railings.

"I heard the bang, he bounced onto the ground and everyone came rushing over to his aid.

"Judging by the lack of movement I would say he was pretty badly injured."

Medical staff and police officers were quick to react, he said.

Chief officers from Kent Police, including Chief Constable Mike Fuller, were among the first on the scene after the accident.

South East Coast Ambulance Service paramedics Richard Harker and Denise Collett, treated the injured man at the scene.

Mr Harker said: "It became clear once we arrived that for some reason the parachutist had landed in the wrong place.

"He'd obviously landed with some force."

The injured man was fully conscious but had sustained back injuries, said Mr Harker.

"He was in quite a lot of pain" added the paramedic.

"At the time we were treating him for potentially life threatening injuries."

Another witness said: "They were all struggling coming down, about six came down."

Senior officers from Kent Police, including Chief Constable Mike Fuller, Ch Supt Alasdair Hope and Ch Insp Ian Hall, were among the first on the scene, and assisted medical staff.

The man was taken to Maidstone Hospital by members of St John Ambulance, escorted by paramedics and police.

Steve Walker, operations manager for St John Ambulance, praised the efforts of all who helped in the emergency.

"Mike Fuller asked us what we wanted" he said, "Everyone worked brilliantly together."

The parachutist was later transferred to a hospital in London for further treatment.

His injuries are not thought to be life threatening.

An inquiry by the Health and Safety Executive and the British Parachute Association is now under way.