An eye witness has described the moment a driver was set alight after his tipper lorry hit overhead power cables at a Fenland quarry.

“The driver was outside the vehicle tipping the back up when it struck the cables,” said the eye witness.

“He was thrown back and we thought he was dead. He was on fire. The fire brigade and air ambulance arrived very quickly, within minutes.”

The incident happened just before 4.30pm today at the Block Fen quarry just off the A142 between Chatteris and Ely.

A spokesman for Magpas Air Ambulance said: “Our ambulance landed near the scene following a call to an incident where a man had been electrocuted by overhead cables.

“The Magpas doctor and paramedic assessed the man, in his 40s, who had suffered severe injuries.

“The patient was given advanced pain relief (A&E level specialist care) before being flown to Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge, via the air ambulance.”

The spokesman added: “He was in a serious but stable condition on arrival at hospital.”

Reports locally have named the company who own the truck and other drivers have reported tonight being told to postpone any planned visits to the quarry on Friday morning.

Fire, police and ambulance crews from across the area raced to the scene following the incident.