[kellyhound]

UK, A pedestrian who survived being knocked down by an out-of-control bus has told how police did not believe him until they saw CCTV footage.

Simon Smith said he was lucky to be alive after being struck by the double-decker as he crossed the road in Reading - before miraculously getting up and walking into a pub.

CCTV showed the 53 year-old being knocked off his feet from behind and thrown around 45ft. The bus then mounted the pavement, veering to the right, which saved Mr Smith from being crushed under the wheels.

Incredibly, Mr Smith walked away with only minor cuts and bruises. Seconds after the crash, he is seen standing up unaided, dusting himself down - and walking into the doorway of The Purple Turtle bar to seek refuge.

Mr Smith, an HDV driver from Earley, near Reading, disclosed that neither police nor paramedics at first believed his story because they thought if he had been hit by the bus, he "wouldn’t be here".

Thames Valley Police are now investigating the crash. No arrests have been made so far.

“I hadn’t lost consciousness so I knew what had happened," Mr Smith told The Sun. “But the police and paramedics didn’t believe me.

“Originally they were all in agreement because if I had been hit by the bus, I wouldn’t be here. I said ‘I’m sure the bus hit me’ and they kept saying ‘No you were hit by debris’.

“An officer then saw the CCTV at the pub and came back and said ‘I’m really sorry, you were right’."

Mr Smith was on his way to the bank on Saturday morning when he was struck from behind by the number 17 bus.

The vehicle also hit street furniture before hitting the pedestrian, who had time only to look over his shoulder before he was hit.

Mr Smith's wife told The Telegraph: "He's suffering. He's in a lot of pain." She added that his "recovery is the main thing".

South Central Ambulance service said they initially misreported Mr Smith's injuries because he appeared to have come out of the crash unscathed.

A spokesman said: "He informed staff that he had been hit by a bus and they thought from the incident log that he was unscathed and initially sent out a statement saying he was hit by debris from the shop front."

Reading Buses said it is investigating the "awful incident", which happened at about 9.10am The driver has been "taken off the road" pending the investigation.

The bus had its windscreen shattered the impact before coming to a halt a short distance away.

[William May]

And THAT is why you should just stay in the pub!