Rudy Giuliani has been severely injured in a high-speed car accident in New Hampshire.

The former New York mayor, 81, was hospitalised with a fractured spine and multiple cuts and bruises after his car was struck from behind, according to a representative.

Mr Giuliani, Donald Trump’s former lawyer, was assisting a domestic-violence victim shortly before the crash took place, his spokesman Michael Ragusa said.

“Mayor Giuliani was flagged down by a woman who was a victim of domestic violence prior to the accident,” his chief of security posted on X.

“He rendered assistance and contacted 911, remaining on scene until responding officers arrived to ensure her safety.”

Following the incident, Mr Giuliani was travelling on the motorway when his rent-a-car vehicle was struck “at high speed” .

He was transported to a nearby trauma centre where he was also diagnosed with injuries to his left arm and lower leg.

‘He’s a beast, he survived 9/11’

Despite his injuries, Mr Giuliani, who served as New York mayor from 1994 to 2011, is said to be recovering well.

“The mayor is in great spirits. He’s a beast. He survived 9/11,” Mr Ragusa said of his boss, according to The New York Post.

He added that “America’s mayor” is expected to remain in the Manchester-area hospital for several more days and will be required to wear a brace to help his broken vertebrae heal.

Maria Ryan, Mr Giuliani’s business partner who is also a nurse, is said to be overseeing his care.

Andrew Giuliani, his son, praised his father for being the “toughest SOB I’ve ever seen”.

“Thank you to all the people that have reached out since learning the news about my father. Your prayers mean the world,” he wrote on X.

“As a son, I can tell you I’m honoured to have a dad that I can call the toughest SOB I’ve ever seen!”

Mr Ragusa said the collision was “not a targeted attack” after conspiracies spread online.

Rise to fame

Mr Giuliani rose to fame in the 1980s as a New York prosecutor before being elected mayor.

He later became a close adviser to Mr Trump during his first term and was prosecuted after spreading false claims about ballot counters following the president’s 2020 election defeat.

Mr Giuliani was disbarred in New York and Washington DC and declared bankrupt after being ordered to pay nearly $150m to two Georgia election workers whom he defamed.

In November last year, he was ordered to turn over most of his assets, including a vintage 1980s Mercedes sports car and a luxury Manhattan apartment.

Mr Giuliani’s lawyers previously requested that their client be permitted to appear virtually for court proceedings because of his poor health.

His attorneys said that the former mayor suffers from “a number of medical conditions”, including a “severe knee condition” and a lung condition that requires use of an inhaler.

He is also said to have undergone surgery for coronary heart disease and takes regular medication for his condition.

Mr Ragusa and the City of Manchester’s police department were approached for comment.