Man dies after falling from M5 motorway bridge near Birmingham

A man has died after falling from a motorway bridge on the M5 near Birmingham this morning during rush hour.

Police were called to reports of a man falling off Newton Road bridge onto the southbound carriageway at around 7.10am, near Forge Lane in Sandwell.

He was pronounced dead at the scene.

The motorway was closed in both directions earlier this morning, but reopened at around 9.00am.

A spokeswoman for West Midlands Ambulance Service said: "We were called to a medical emergency before junction 1 of the M5 Southbound near Charlemont, Birmingham at around 7.10am. On arrival, crews found a male patient in a critical condition receiving basic life support.

"Ambulance staff immediately took over and administered advanced life support but sadly, despite everyone’s best efforts, the man could not be saved and was confirmed dead at the scene."

The M5 was closed in both directions earlier this morning causing severe delays between Junction 8 (M6) and Junction 1 (West Bromwich), but has now reopened in both directions.

National Highways said long delays have now eased and traffic has returned to normal.