A man in his 20s who suffered potentially life-threatening injuries after falling from scaffolding at the Randolph Hotel in Oxford may have been lying hurt for two hours. 

SEE MORE PICTURES: Firefighters search Randolph Hotel scaffolding for missing climber

Emergency services were called to the five-star Grade II-listed hotel during the early hours of Sunday to reports that a man had climbed the scaffolding.

Police were called at 12.50am and firefighters arrived shortly afterwards.

The man was not found until 3.05am, 'on a flat roof' having fallen 'up to four storeys'. At that point, an ambulance was called. 

It means the man - who contrary to initial reports is not a student - may have been lying badly injured for up to two hours. 

However, despite being seen climbing the scaffolding at 12.50am, it is not known exactly when he fell. 

Oxford Mail:

Thames Valley Police spokesman Gareth Ford-Lloyd said: "At around 12.50am on Sunday Thames Valley Police were called to the Randolph Hotel in Beaumont Street, Oxford to reports that a man had scaled scaffolding on the building.

"The man fell from the scaffold and as a result suffered a serious injury. He remains in hospital in a serious condition.

"Officers are currently investigating the circumstances surrounding this incident.

"We would ask anyone with information to call 101 quoting reference 81 24/2/19."

Oxford Mail:

Pictures sent to the Oxford Mail show firefighters on the scaffolding.

South Central Ambulance Service spokesman David Gallagher said: "We were contacted by Thames Valley Police at 03:05 on Sunday morning who informed us that they had found an unconscious male on a flat roof suspected to have fallen from a height of up to four storeys at the Macdonald Randolph Hotel in Oxford.

"The patient had sustained potentially life-threatening head and chest injuries and after initial treatment at the scene, and with the help of Oxfordshire Fire & Rescue Service, the patient was taken down from the roof and transported to the John Radcliffe Hospital.

"We had two ambulances and a paramedic team leader in a rapid response vehicle at the scene."

One eyewitness said the pavement next to the hotel was still cordoned off at 3.30am.

In the autumn scaffolding was erected to cover the Beaumont Street frontage as the £1.5m restoration of stonework continued at the Grade II-listed hotel, with scaffolding also in place in Magdalen Street.

Oxfordshire County Council runs Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service.

Council spokesman Chris Dyson said: "Oxfordshire County Council Fire and Rescue Service were called at 00:58. The incident was concluded at 04:19.

"Crews attended from Rewley Road, plus the Rescue Tender from Kidlington, along with drone support from Buckinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service."

The Macdonald Hotels chain, which runs the Randolph, has been asked to comment.