A WORKMAN who collapsed in a Gourock street has tragically died.

Shocked residents in the town’s Broomberry Drive rushed to the aid of the man, part of a team carrying out Virgin Media broadband infrastructure work, when he took ill near the end of a shift.

Paramedics were called to the scene and battled to save his life, carrying out CPR in the street and then in the ambulance before the man was rushed to hospital.

It has now been confirmed that the man, believed to be in his mid-50s, passed away. Virgin Media workers have been digging up footpaths and laying fibre optic cables in the street for a number of weeks as part of an upgrade.

The telecommunications giants confirmed the tragic death and said they would be looking into the circumstances.

Rob Evans, managing director of Project Lightning at Virgin Media, said: “We are extremely saddened by this news and would like to extend our deepest sympathies to his family and friends.”

Ambulance crews were called to the scene on Monday night at around 6.45pm before rushing the man to Inverclyde Royal Hospital.

Neighbours had rushed from their homes to help when the alarm was raised.

One onlooker said: “The man was lying unconscious on the grass verge.

“There were two ambulances at the scene, they were working on him for a time carrying out CPR.

“Virgin have been in the street for a week or two putting down fibre optic cables. They have been very courteous to residents and have been carrying out their work with the minimum of disruption.

“What happened is just awful, it is so sad.”