Motorcyclist thanks police after crash on the A2 in Dover
Published: 11:59, 30 August 2022
Updated: 14:53, 30 August 2022
A motorcyclist feared he was going to die after he crashed into bushes - hidden from view from other motorists.
Retired IT worker Alan Wright has now thanked police for saving his life after he lost control of his three-wheeled scooter on the A2 near Dover and left the carriageway.
The 75-year-old needed urgent medical attention after the crash on Tuesday, August 16, at 7.20pm.
He had fallen and was trapped beneath the bike, causing him to suffer severe nausea and breathing difficulties that he later discovered was an early sign of heart failure.
He was also covered by thick undergrowth that prevented any other passing motorists from seeing him.
"I was in a very bad situation. I couldn’t get up or see the road, there were no houses in sight and nobody was around to help me," Mr Wright said.
"I was drifting in and out of consciousness and I felt like my heart was on the verge of giving out.
"I was very concerned that I might be about to die."
Mr Wright, who lives in Ripley, Derbyshire, was returning from a holiday in France when the accident happened.
Luckily, he was able to call 999 and speak to the police call handler who sent officers to attend the general area that Mr Wright was in immediately.
Police tried to get a more precise GPS location from his mobile phone and the officers who attended had their sirens on whilst they searched for Mr Wright in the hope he would hear them as they drove past.
Fortunately Mr Wright heard them and told the call-handler, who stayed on the phone with him for around 45 minutes.
PC Andy Green, from the roads policing unit, then stopped his vehicle and found the seriously unwell motorist near the side of the road between Coldred and Lydden.
"If it were not for PC Green having my call patched through to his radio I probably would not have been found. That is what saved my life," Mr Wright said.
"An ambulance crew arrived shortly afterwards and I was deemed to be in real danger of heart failure.
"I was rushed to hospital where they managed to get my heartbeat back to normal and I have now made a full recovery, but I could have quite easily died by that roadside.
"It is full credit to Kent Police and the medical professionals who treated me that I am alive to tell the story today."
PC Green said protecting life is the top priority for every police officer.
"I am delighted Mr Wright has now made a full recovery after suffering such a serious incident," he said.
"Collisions on the road are normally very easy to spot and reported by numerous witnesses, but on this occasion there was nobody who could help us find Mr Wright apart from himself.
"Fortunately he was able to listen out for our sirens despite being in a very serious condition indeed."
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Chantal Weller