By John Connell

Last updated at 13:02, Thursday, 28 February 2013

A concerned neighbour’s actions may have helped to save an elderly man’s life.

The man, who is understood to be in his 70s, had fallen inside his home on James Street in Workington earlier this week.

A spokeswoman from the ambulance service said the man could have been lying there for up to four days.

Police received a call at about 11.20am yesterday after concerns had been raised for the welfare of the man who had not been seen for at least two days.

The person who called the police is understood to be a man who lived opposite.

The ambulance spokeswoman said: “Police arrived on the scene first after they received a call from someone concerned for his welfare.”

When they had been unable to rouse him the police went around the back, she said, and saw him on the floor.

The man was conscious and breathing when police entered through the front door which was unlocked.

He was taken to the West Cumberland Hospital in Whitehaven where his condition has been described as stable.

The ambulance spokeswoman said that no bones had been broken in the fall.

The neighbour believed to have alerted the emergency services was not available to comment.

First published at 12:59, Thursday, 28 February 2013
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk