A MAN has died after plunging 70ft from the top of a shopping centre car park in front of dozens of stunned shoppers and witnesses.

The 39-year-old, who has not yet been formally identified, fell from the multi-storey car park close to St John's Square at The Rock at about 9.20am on Tuesday.

Mark Ryan and Wayne Gordon, who work for cleaning firm Premiserv, were on their way to clean The Rock's apartments when they saw the man fall right in front of them.

Mr Ryan told The Bury Times how he called 999 and told Mr Gordon, aged 20, to run to the Moorgate Primary Care Centre to get help.

"It was just a horrible thing for me, Wayne, the man and everyone else who had to see it," said Mr Ryan, a 32-year-old father-of-two from Eccles.

He said: "Had we been walking four seconds behind where we were, he would have landed on top of us.

"It was like something from a horror film."

While on the phone to an emergency operator, Mr Ryan checked the man's pulse behind his ear.

He added: "There was a faint pulse, but his injuries were awful. He had fallen from a great height and his chances of pulling through were faint.

"It was absolutely terrible. I was desperate to help, but I told the operator that I didn't know CPR and she tried to tell me what to do.

Two nurses arrived from the health centre within three minutes of the man's fall and seven paramedics arrived shortly after.

Mr Ryan said they tried to revive the man for 30 minutes before he was pronounced dead.

Security staff from The Rock brought out a tent which was used to screen off the scene from public view.

The incident was so distressing for Mr Ryan and Mr Gordon that their boss gave them a day's compassionate leave.

"We didn't see him or hear him while he was up there. When you usually think of such situations, you imagine that it is someone wanting help and they can be talked down, but that wasn't the case with this," added Mr Ryan.

A Bury Police spokesman said: "Shortly before 9:20am, police were called to St John's Square following reports of a man falling from height.

"Emergency services attended and a 39-year-old man was sadly pronounced dead at the scene.

"The investigation is at an early stage and enquiries are ongoing to establish the exact circumstances surrounding the death."

Police are asking anyone with information to contact them on 101.