Pensioner lucky to survive after heroic bid to stop runaway bin lorry in Gorleston

Damage caused to a Ford Escourt Estate after a pensioner was crushed between the side of it and a runaway lorry. Photo: Anonymous (Image: Archant)

A heroic pensioner has described how he was dragged along a street as he fought to stop an out-of-control lorry.

The 71-year-old was lucky to survive after he was crushed against parked cars as the truck rolled backwards down the road outside his Gorleston home.

As he was in his kitchen, the great-grandfather saw there was no one in the driver's cab so rushed outside to try and stop the refuse vehicle causing chaos in Beach Road.

The road where the runaway lorry was. Picture: Robert McVicar (Image: Archant)

MORE: Man taken to hospital after being crushed between a lorry and car

He tried to jump up into the cab of the moving vehicle to apply the hand brake.

Pulling open the lorry door, he tried desperately to reach for the hand brake, but got stuck in the door and was pulled along between parked cars on the side of the narrow road.

Cars were damaged and a man was injured when a lorry started rolling back along Beach road, Gorleston. (Image: Archant � 2017)

Neighbours described hearing a 'popping' noise as his back smashed the windows of the cars and crushed him.

He admitted it was a tall order trying to stop a moving truck, and said: 'I can hardly get into a car let alone jump into a lorry cab.'

Lisa Connor, 60, thought her neighbour, who did not want to be named, was going to be pulled under the HGV's tyres and said it was like watching a silent movie in slow motion.

She added: 'He appeared to be running alongside the truck. It became apparent he seemed caught on something within the truck's open door and desperately tried to remain on his feet.'

She said the truck rolled past three cars before he got lodged between the lorry and a Red Ford Escort and she heard a sound of metal grinding as he was squashed against the cars.

The truck belonging to the Dereham-based company Glazewing continued moving while the man was stuck. It came to a halt by crashing into the back of a Mini. He was able to free himself.

His wife said paramedics took photographs of the scene to show the hospital staff and they told her they couldn't believe he walked away from it with just bruises.

A police spokesman said officers spoke to the vehicle's owners and were satisfied no offences had been committed.

Director of Glazewing Jason Minns said: 'We are carrying out an investigation into the matter.'

The ambulance service said the man was taken to hospital after being crushed between a lorry and car last Thursday morning.