E-Scooter rider 'critically ill' after suffering head injury in Newcastle

A 55-year-old man is fighting for his life after he came off a hired e-scooter and suffered a serious head injury.

Northumbria Police said the incident happened at about 8.50pm on Saturday in Newcastle city centre when the man was riding with a group of around 12 people.

He was on Redheugh Bridge Road, near the city's Arena, when for some reason he came off the e-scooter, which was understood to be part of a city-wide hire scheme.

He remained in a critical but stable condition on Monday morning, police said.

Sergeant Matt Sykes, from the motor patrols department, said:

"This was a very serious incident which has left a 55-year-old man with potentially life-threatening injuries.

"An investigation into the circumstances surrounding the collision is ongoing and we are keen to hear from anyone who can help us build up a clear picture of the moments which led up to this incident.

"Our enquiries are still at a very early stage but we believe that a male connected to a Land Rover or Range Rover flagged down someone in the party to tell them that the man had come off his e-scooter.

"We would urge that key witness to get in touch with us as they could provide vital information to help us to establish exactly what has happened."

Investigators have asked anyone who saw the group riding together earlier, or anyone with dash cam footage, to call 101.