An eyewitness has described the moment a delivery man was run over by a thief who had stolen his van.

Police have launched a murder investigation after Charles Bunyasi, 49, from Mitcham, suffered fatal injuries during the incident at about 11am yesterday.

He died yesterday in hospital at about 5.45pm.

The woman, who did not wish to be named, said she was tending to her front garden in Coulsdon Road, Coulsdon, when she saw Mr Bunyasi pull up opposite her home in a white transit van.

He went to deliver a parcel to her neighbour.

She said: “Then I saw a man running past next door's driveway. I looked back to do my gardening, and then I heard the van's engine revving and it screeching as it pulled away.

“I looked up because of the noise and I saw the passenger door opening – the man must have seen what was happening and had gone back to try and get in the van - Then I saw this guy falling on the floor.

“He must have gone over him with the back wheels – It was just horrible.”

She said she ran over to see Mr Bunyasi, who was bleeding badly. She said: “He was groaning in pain, and was making a terrible noise like he was choking.”

She said she ran inside to call 999, while another woman, who said she was trained in first aid, attended Mr Bunyasi until the emergency services arrived.

She described how a man pulled up in a 4x4 vehicle and tried to pursue the man in the stolen van.

She said the van driver sped off down the road in the direction of Purley.

She said police cordoned off the road while paramedics treated Mr Bunyasi for about 30 minutes before taking him by road ambulance to hospital.

A London Ambulance Service spokesman said: “We were called just before 11am to reports of an incident in Coulsdon Road.

“We dispatched two single responders in cars, an air ambulance crew, a duty officer and an air ambulance to the scene.”

“Our staff treated one patient, a man, who was taken to hospital as a priority.”

Neighbours said the thief pulled up in a blue transit van shortly before the incident.

Police confirmed the suspect arrived in a vehicle that was recovered at the scene.

Police have launched a murder investigation under Detective Chief Inspector Cliff Lyons of the Homicide and Serious Crime Command.

DCI Lyons said: "Mr Bunyasi was a hardworking man who was in the process of making a delivery to help support his family. It is a tragedy that he has lost his life in this manner."

It is understood Mr Bunyasi worked full time for a local authority, but had taken a part time job for the delivery firm to help support his family.

DCI Lyons said the stolen van had not been recovered and urged people to contact officers if they saw it.

The van's registration is NG56 WSZ.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the incident room on 0208 721 4961 or speak to Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

A 28-year old man has been arrested in connection with the investigation and remains in custody at a south London police station.

Did you know Mr Bunyasi? Pay tribute to him below, call 0208 722 6359 or email mwatts@london.newsquest.co.uk