Police are appealing for witnesses after a man was knocked down by a dark coloured 4x4 which then failed to stop.

Police are ambulance crews were called to the junction of St Helens Road and High Street, Sheerness, at 6.55pm yesterday.

Unemployed builder Stephen Friday, 54, was returning to his home in nearby Vincent Gardens when he was hit and thrown onto the bonnet of the car.

Warning: Graphic image below

Horrified passers-by said other motorists continued to drive past as the father lay unconscious on the road. An unnamed nurse finally stopped to help.

Mr Friday was taken to Medway Maritime Hospital where he underwent an emergency operation for a punctured lung.

He also had seven stitches put in a three-inch gash to his head. Doctors believe he has suffered swelling and bruising to his brain.

His niece Cher Friday, 22, from Rushenden, speaking from her uncle’s bedside, said: “At first doctors said he had life-threatening injuries but he seems to have stabilised now.

"At first he couldn’t remember anything about the incident although now he says he was hit by a black 4x4.

“He said he was about to cross the road after visiting a friend when the car came flying round the corner.

He has a three-inch gash on his forehead, a gash on the back of his head, a tube coming out of his punctured right lung, bruising on his back, bruising and swelling to his brain and neck, and grazes to his arm, hand and several areas of his body.”

She added: “At least one other person must have stopped and helped because we have someone’s jacket which doesn’t belong to us.

Cher said: “We’d like to thank everyone for their support but I hope the driver who did this is caught. He is a scumbag.”

Witness Jo Connolly said on Facebook: “I can't believe a man was run over in Sheerness and people where just driving around him. Thankfully my friend stopped and called an ambulance.”

Officers believe it is possible that the vehicle may have damage to the windscreen.

Anyone with information about the incident, or who may believe they seen a damaged vehicle matching the description can call police on 01795 419119 quoting 13-1270.