A lovesick man was impaled on railings after plummeting from a balcony while trying to covertly meet his forbidden love.

The 24-year-old, of Kings Avenue, Greenford, had to be cut free by the fire brigade after falling between 20 and 30 foot on to the spike.

He was taken to Ealing Hospital at about 2.10am on Saturday.

The railing in the grounds of the four-storey block in Burgess Court, Fleming Road, Southall pierced straight through the victim's thigh.

A fireman at the scene said: "It was like he had hopped over the railing and trapped one leg behind him.

"The ambulance crew put a stretcher under his other leg and he leant against two of us to try and make him as comfortable as possible while we cut him free.

"He was then taken in the ambulance with a large chunk of the railings still inside him because it was too close to an artery."

His injuries were not life threatening but experts believe just inches either way and a major artery could have been served leading to a quick death.

A neighbour who lives on the estate said: "Bits of his insides, flesh or something, were left on the floor until they were cleaned up on Monday; it was very upsetting.

"Everyone is really shocked. People thought it was a child at first.

"People said he was screaming as he fell.

'You hear about accidents on the roads and things like that but you don't imagine it happening so close to home.

"We all feel so sorry for him. He was all by himself when he was taken by the ambulance, which made it worse."

The victim was said to be visiting his lover in secret because their families do not approve of the relationship.

Residents are baffled as to how the young man managed to fall over the wall of the balcony. Some witnesses reported that some people were seen running away from the scene.

* Police could not confirm whether they are treating the accident as suspicious but anyone with information is asked to contact them on 0208 8101 212.