A pensioner on a day out sightseeing suffered serious injuries after being knocked down by a car.

Fred Pirie, 81, had just been to Rochester Cathedral and was crossing the road to the castle when he was hit and became trapped under the vehicle.

His shocked friends and passers-by came to his aid as he lay in the busy precinct in a pool of blood.

Paramedics treated him at the scene before he was taken to King’s College Hospital in London where he is being treated for multiple leg and foot injuries, a broken nose and swelling.

Speaking from his bed, he said: “I don’t remember a thing about it.

“I was crossing the road with one foot on the kerb. I was out of it.

“The next thing I knew, there was blood everywhere and somebody trying to cut off my jacket.”

Mr Pirie had travelled from his his home in Romford in Essex with his friend Emma and a couple Steve and Lin Mathieson.

Mr Pirie, a retired window fitter who practises spiritual healing, said: “I’m up and down. I feel like I’ve done 10 rounds.

“But I would like to say a big thank you to everyone who helped me.

Widower Mr Pirie is a regular visitor to the town and, after his wife passed away, is looking to move to the area.

He said “We planned to look around to get a feel of the place. But now everything is up in the air.

“They say I could be here for another six to eight weeks.”

He has undergone surgery to reset a bone in his foot and he will probably need a skin graft.

Mr Mathieson said: “He kept very calm throughout even though the injuries were horrific

“We had to push the car off his leg.

“At one point he seemed more worried about his velvet jacket and ruining everyone’s day out.

”The driver was very shaken and offered to pay any taxi bills.”

Mr Pirie said: “I love Rochester and will be back, despite what happened.”

The accident happened at about 12.30pm on Thursday last week (September 7.)

Police and ambulance attended and the road was cordoned off for two hours.

No arrests or charges have been made.