A MAN working near Leytonstone tube station had a lucky escape after he fell off a 15ft ladder.

The worker, originally from Poland, fell as he erected a sign on the wall above VIP Treats on Church Lane.

After attaching it the sign came loose and as he tried to catch it he lost his footing on the ladder and fell to the ground.

Despite suffering head injuries and a fractured arm he spent only one night in hospital and was released the following day.

Eyewitness Mohammad Kasim, 23, who works at Subway Food and Wine next door, said: "At the time I remember thinking that he was a goner. He had blood coming out of his head."

Mr Kasim said the man was unconscious for about 10 minutes after the fall, which happened last Wednesday at about 4.30pm.

A section of Church Lane was closed off and ambulance atrended the scene before the man was airlifted to Royal London Hospital.

"He was working with two other guys, who were sitting in their van nearby. They should have been holding the ladder at the bottom," he added.

On Thursday Mr Kasim spoke to the injured man by telephone and he said that he was recovering well.