An eyewitness has spoken of the horrific scenes in Penryn on Friday when a man chopped his penis off with a kitchen knife in front of horrified onlookers.

The 43-year-old man, who lives in the town, could be seen running along Mutton Row at around 8.45pm, allegedly naked.

He then brandished the knife and cut off his penis, before collapsing to the ground.

An eyewitness said he found the severed penis in a neighbouring garden.

It is reported that the witness, a student in the town, said that the man looked him in the eye, "started screaming and then cut", adding he did not stay to watch.

Three police officers called to the scene, PC Kim James, PC Jules Evans,and PC James Tompson gave first aid at the scene after finding the man in his house. With their swift actions credited as avoiding what would most likely have been a "fatal incident".

A spokesman for South Western Ambulance Service said paramedics arrived just before 9pm the man was “bleeding heavily” and had fallen unconscious when they found him.

The police received the initial call from a member of the public, to say there was concern for a man.

A spokesperson confirmed that there was no one else involved in the incident.

The man was taken by land ambulance to the emergency department at the Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro, where he was later described as being in a “stable” condition. His injuries are not thought to the life threatening.

It is thought the man may suffer from a mental health issue.

It is understood that two women saw the incident unfold and ran terrified to a nearby house, where a man took them in and called the police.

The man is said to be in a stabe condition in hospital at Trelsike.