A MAN choking on food he was eating at a North-East retail park has been taken to hospital following the “life threatening” incident.

The Great North Air Ambulance (GNAAS) arrived at Teesside Park, Stockton, at around 12.30pm on Saturday afternoon after the emergency services were contacted for the man believed to be in his 50s.

The man was given emergency treatment and was transported to Middlesbrough’s James Cook University Hospital by road ambulance in seven minutes.

He arrived at the site in critical condition.

A GNAAS spokesman said: “At 12.30pm, the Great North Air Ambulance Service was called to assist the North East Ambulance Service with a male who was choking in Teesside.

“The man received treatment from the crew before being transported by land to James Cook University Hospital.”