A man who was knocked down on a busy Dundee street has told how a £5 frying pan saved his life.
Alex Ferguson, 26, was on his way home from a shopping trip in the city when he stepped off a bus on Rosebank Street in the Hilltown and was hit by a car at Stirling Court on Monday — two days before his birthday.
The customer sales adviser said that he had bought a frying pan in Home Bargains earlier that day as an impulse purchase, little knowing it would later play a crucial part in him escaping from the accident with relatively minor injuries.
Alex said the pan, which was in his bag at the time, took the brunt of the force from the incident.
He said: “I’m very lucky I bought it and it was in my bag.
“I didn’t go out to buy a frying pan but it was cheap and I needed one so I picked it up.
“It’s probably the best buy I’ve ever made — it took the brunt of the hit, well worth the £5.
“It saved my life so I think it’s entitled to stay in my home, even if I won’t be frying with it now.”
Alex had gotten off the number 22 bus and was crossing the road ahead of it when he collided with a car.
He said: “It was scary.
“I lay there on the ground and just thought, ‘Oh, I just got hit by a car.
“I was in shock and it didn’t seem very real. I was quite detached from it for a while.”
Alex was travelling with his friend Abbie Sommer, her boyfriend Greg, and five year-old Mayah — who all witnessed the accident.
Abbie, 23, said: “I heard a massive bang and I stood up and saw my friend lying on the ground.
“I got my boyfriend to stay with my child and I ran off the bus to see him.
“I sat on the road beside him and I kept talking to keep him calm and told him not to move.
“He was obviously shaken up from what just happened and so was I.
“I took his shopping bags home and it wasn’t until much later that I saw the frying pan and realised that is what stopped him from being a lot more hurt.
“I think his injuries would have been a lot worse if it wasn’t for the
frying pan.”
Alex said it was fortunate that it hadn’t been someone older who’d been struck.
He said: “It shows that there’s only so much you can plan for.
“I was brought up to be careful on the roads and always look both ways but I just didn’t see the car.”
Alex was taken to Ninewells Hospital by ambulance but was later discharged with minor cuts, bruises and neck ache, which he thinks is most likely whiplash.
The road was cordoned off for a time while the incident was dealt with by the emergency services.
