Health care helpline workers called the police after a man reportedly stabbed himself while on the phone to one of their medical operators.

NHS Direct workers contacted the police who attended an address on Typhoon Way, Wallington just before 1pm on Thursday, December 15.

They found a man in his 20s sat in an armchair in the lounge with a single, 1-2 inch stab wound to his abdomen.

The man’s mother was in another room when the injury was inflicted and no one else was in the property at the time.

Air Ambulance took the victim to the Royal London Hospital and the injury was initially thought to be life threatening.

However, he had an operation overnight and is in a stable condition.

Police officers are not treating the incident as a crime and are not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident.