A petrol station employee hit by a ute while working in Coffs Harbour is fighting for life.

He was struck while checking fuel tank levels in the service station forecourt on Harbour Dr about 7pm on Tuesday.

The 36-year-old service station attendant was “pinned beneath” the ute, NSW Police acting inspector Amanda Crouch said on Wednesday.

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She described the incident as “horrific” and “frantic” and said multiple agencies worked together on the delicate operation.

The ute driver, a 44-year-old woman, had been leaving the petrol station after paying for fuel when she allegedly struck the worker.

“I understand it was raining at the time, but I don’t believe that this was a contributing factor,” Crouch said.

The driver stayed at the service station until emergency services arrived, and was then hospitalised for mandatory testing.

The service station employee was pinned beneath a ute while checking fuel levels at the bowser. Credit: 7NEWS

The 36-year-old man was critically injured, and remains in an unstable condition in hospital. Credit: 7NEWS

It is unclear how long it took for the injured worker to be freed from underneath the ute, and NSW Ambulance officer Tayla Chapman said it was “incredibly difficult” to treat the 36-year-old man while the car was still on top of him.

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Chapman said paramedics had to work extremely quickly once the worker had been released with the assistance of firefighters and SES crews.

The injured worker was taken to Coffs Harbour Hospital, and then airlifted to John Hunter Hospital where remains in an unstable, critical condition.

NSW Police acting inspector Amanda Crouch said the alleged driver was ‘on bail in relation to other offences’ at the time of the Coffs Harbour incident. Credit: 7NEWS

The alleged driver is known to police, and Crouch said: ”She is currently on bail in relation to other offences.”

The incident is not believed to be a targeted attack, Crouch said.

The 44-year-old woman has now been charged with negligent driving occasioning grievous bodily harm, and breach of bail.

She was refused bail to face court on Wednesday.

Victoria Police and SafeWork NSW are engaged in ongoing investigations into the matter.