A PENSIONER is recovering after being hit by an ambulance outside Southampton General Hospital's accident and emergency department.

The 87-year-old man was hit by the Hampshire ambulance as it reversed at low speed near the hospital's accident and emergency department entrance.

After being treated in A&E, the injured man, who has not been named, was admitted to a ward at the hospital, where he was said to be "comfortable".

The collision, which happened at about 9.30am on Thursday, is believed to be the first of its kind at the site.

Today, a joint inquiry by ambulance service and hospital officials was under way in a bid to determine how the accident happened.

In a statement, Hampshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust said: "Hampshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust can confirm that on Thursday, November 4 one of its emergency ambulances was involved in an incident at Southampton General Hospital in which an 87-year-old male pedestrian was in collision with a reversing ambulance travelling at low speed outside accident and emergency.

"The man was treated in A&E and admitted to the hospital. An immediate investigation has been launched and findings will be released when it is complete.

"In the meantime, Hampshire Ambulance Trust very much regrets that the incident occurred and will be contacting the gentleman and his family."

A spokesman for Southampton University Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs Southampton General Hospital, said: "We were very distressed by what happened to the man.

"We are working with the ambulance service to see if there is anything the hospital can do to prevent anything like this from happening again."