A DRAMATIC rescue operation involving an air ambulance was sparked in Greenock yesterday after a man was seriously injured in an accident at a garage.

Paramedics and police rushed to Arnold Clark’s Vauxhall premiseson the A8 just after 8am yesterday morning after a 55-year-old worker suffered serious leg injuries at the premises.

The situation was so urgent that the main road was closed to allow an air ambulance to land.

The injured man was taken to Inverclyde Royal Hospital by ambulance.

His injuries have been described as ‘significant’, but they are not believed to be life-threatening.

Sergeant Chris McKay said: “We received a call at 8.20am that a 55-year-old male employee had suffered a leg injury at Arnold Clark’s Vauxhall premises.

“He was treated at the scene by paramedics and was taken to IRH by ambulance.

“For a short period of time we had to close the road in both directions to allow for the helicopter to land but it was not required.

“The man is now in hospital getting treatment for a leg injury.

“We are treating the incident as a workplace accident and the council and environmental health have been informed.”

A spokesman at the Scottish Ambulance Service said they were alerted to the incident just after 8am.

He said: “We received a call at 08.01 hours to attend an incident on Port Glasgow Road, Greenock.

“We dispatched one ambulance, our emergency medical retrieval service, an ambulance officer and our helicopter air ambulance.

“One male patient in his 50s was taken to Inverclyde Royal Hospital by ambulance.”

Arnold Clark released a statement after the incident.

It said: “We are aware of an incident that has occurred at the Arnold Clark Vauxhall workshop in Greenock and we are working with the emergency services at this time. 

“We will be conducting a full investigation in due course and at the moment our priority is with our employee that has been affected.”

A spokesman at Inverclyde Council added: “Our environmental health officers attended the incident and the investigation is ongoing including consultation with the Health and Safety Executive.”