A 34-year-old man is seriously ill in hospital today after falling 25ft from the balcony of a Stafford flat.

The man, who has not been named, was found in the garden below the second-floor flat in Averill Road at 8am yesterday, after an ambulance was summoned to the scene.

Stafford and Rural Homes, owners of the former council flat, today said it was a one-off accident and there were no safety issues about balconies.

The injured man was taken to the specialist head injury unit at the University Hospital of North Staffordshire where his condition is said to be stable.

West Midlands Ambulance spokesman Murray MacGregor said “He was immobilised using a neck collar and spinal board before being taken.”

Police are still trying to piece together what happened. Dc Jim Chatfield said it was thought the man lived alone in the flat.

“We have yet to establish whether anyone else was there at the time,” he said.

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A 34-year-old man is seriously ill in hospital today after falling 25ft from the balcony of a Stafford flat.

The man, who has not been named, was found in the garden below the second-floor flat in Averill Road at 8am yesterday, after an ambulance was summoned to the scene.

Stafford and Rural Homes, owners of the former council flat, today said it was a one-off accident and there were no safety issues about balconies.

The injured man was taken to the specialist head injury unit at the University Hospital of North Staffordshire where his condition is said to be stable.

West Midlands Ambulance spokesman Murray MacGregor said “He was immobilised using a neck collar and spinal board before being taken.”

Police are still trying to piece together what happened. Dc Jim Chatfield said it was thought the man lived alone in the flat.

“We have yet to establish whether anyone else was there at the time,” he said.

The front garden of the block of the six flats was taped off initially but Dc Chatfield said it was no longer being preserved as a crime scene.

One other person has been interviewed in connection with the incident and released without charge.

Neighbours said they heard nothing and new very little of the man who lived in the flat.

David Wilkins, director of resources at Stafford and Rural, confirmed the flat was one of their properties and said they had spoken with police about the incident.

“As far as we are aware all these balconies meet current legislative requirements,” he added.

“This was an isolated incident and therefore other tenants can continue to use their balconies normally.”

Dc Chatfield appealed for anyone with information to contact Stafford CID on 08453 302010 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.