Pair rescue couple from runaway car in Sunderland

Jun 26 2009 by Rob Pattinson, The Journal

Kelly, added how her boss had dubbed her ‘Superwoman’ since she swept in to save the day.

“I think anyone would have helped. I couldn’t believe it when I saw the car go past with the man being dragged.

“I shouted to the taxi driver stood behind ‘What shall I do?’ He told me to grab the wheel, so I managed to steer it around a few cars, but because I’ve never driven I didn’t know how to stop it, I couldn’t find the hand-brake.

“Then Ged appeared and we managed to stop it hitting the barriers.

“The couple were obviously both very shaken. I think it was a real shock for them, but they did say thank you.” Last night it was unclear what led to the close-encounter. The engine of the car is not understood to have been switched on during the episode.

Neither police, nor paramedics were called, but it is understood the shaken couple did not appear to be seriously hurt and took themselves to hospital, leaving their car behind.

The commotion drew crowds gathering into the street with offers of help and pats on the back a-plenty for the heroes. Witnesses have said the unnamed couple are understood to have stalled on a narrow stretch of the road.

CCTV footage appears to show the male getting caught in the door as he was climbing out to push the grey Citroen out of the path of traffic waiting behind.

He can then be seen caught in the door and being dragged with his legs flailing under the car for up to 20 metres. When he was eventually shaken loose his hand was caught under a wheel.

Passer-by Bob Willey, of Coach Road, Washington, looked up just in time to see the heroic duo sprint to the rescue, then helped tend to the injured driver.

He said: “It was so alert of them, they reacted so quickly. It’s very commendable.

“I was just stood talking to my mate when I saw Ged running across.

“It’s a good job they were there mind, otherwise who knows what could have happened.”