Mystery surrounds the identity of a man who left a trail of bloody footprints around a shopping centre.

Shoppers at Dockside Outlet Centre in Chatham were left reeling after a man, who was bleeding quite heavily from his foot, walked calmly around the mall before heading back to his car at around 5pm yesterday.

Witnesses said he left a trail of “very bloody” footprints behind.

They trailed from the Range store to the car park where the man got in his car and drove away.

Passersby tried to stop him but he left quickly.

A man, who did not wish to be named, said it was like a horror scene.

“It was like a Hollywood horror film,” he said. “There was blood everywhere.

“There was quite a lot of blood coming from one of his feet. It caused a pretty big puddle but he just walked himself through the centre.”

A woman, who did not wish to be named, said the man just drove off when people asked him if he needed help.

Centre manager Anthony Sutton said staff were aware of the incident.

He said: “The man left the site of his own free will. We called the police and they are dealing with the matter.”

A police spokesman said officers located the man and revealed that he had suffered a medical episode.