A man was found unconscious and suffering major injuries following a full-scale, multi-agency search in Totnes today.

The 22-year-old had fallen 15 feet through the roof of a derelict building at the former Dairy Crest site.

He was airlifted to Derriford Major Trauma Centre where he will receive specialist treatment.

The man had been reported missing from his Torquay home 24-hours earlier and a was found by police at the former milk factory next to Totnes Railway Station.

A police helicopter from South Wales was also involved in the search, along with specialist police and fire service rescue teams and a search and rescue dog. Also at the scene were ambulance paramedics and the Devon Air Ambulance.

A police spokesman from the town said: “Due to the unstable and derelict nature of the site assistance was requested from the Devon Fire and Rescue Service who sent their urban search and rescue team to assist police specialist search teams.

“The male was located in a derelict building having fallen 15 feet through a corrugated roof some 24 hours before.

“He was unconscious and suffered major injuries.

“Life saving treatment was provided by a medic from Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) before paramedics and the air ambulance attended.

“He has been taken by helicopter to Derriford Major Trauma Centre where he will receive specialist treatment.

“Our thoughts and prayers go out to the male and we wish him a full recovery.”

The spokesman warned: “This is not the first instance of a serious injury caused in the old dairy site to a youngster who should not have been there.”

Police thanked their multi-agency partners in the rescue effort, and said without their help the outcome may have been “very different”.

The spokesman said: “We would like to thank the staff from USAR who assisted massively, their dog who located the patient, the Devon Air Ambulance and also the staff from the South Western Ambulance Service who were all experts in their field.

“Without this multi-agency approach the outcome could have been very different.”