An 84-year-old dementia sufferer had a lucky escape after she was caught up in a serious crash on the Thanet Way between Herne Bay and Whitstable.

Sheelagh North was travelling as a passenger with her daughter, Erika North, when their car broke down on the dual carriageway.

As she was getting out of the Suzuki Swift, a lorry hit the back of their car, shunting it up the road and sending her flying into the grass verge.

Ms North, who looks after her mother as a full-time carer, said: “It was a miracle she escaped.

“Mum was thrown out about two or three metres clear of the car. It was seconds away from being so much worse" - Erika North

“I had broken down and thought the lorry had seen us as it appeared to be pulling into the next lane.

“Mum didn’t want to get out of the car because it was raining and cold, so she hadn’t completely got out.

“The next thing I remember is the noise of the metal slamming into the back of my car and the sound of glass smashing.

“Mum was thrown out about two or three metres clear of the car. It was seconds away from being so much worse.

“Had it been a few moments earlier she would have gone through the windscreen.

“It could have been very different. There must have been someone looking down on us.”

The lorry driver stopped to apologise and other drivers offered help after the crash at 8.45am on Wednesday, May 6.

Ms North said that she is now hoping to track down a driver who gave up her red coat so her mother could keep warm.

She said: “People were so kind for stopping and helping. I think they had seen mum flying out of the car.

“To the lady in red I’d like to say thank you, and track her down for giving up such a nice jacket on a cold rainy day.”