A RESURFACED clip shows the moment a man was hit by a bus which mounted the pavement – before he hopped right up and walked straight into a pub.
Simon Smith, then 53, was walking past the Purple Turtle pub in Reading when the bus hurtled around the corner.
CCTVThis is the moment a bus hit pedestrian Simon Smith[/caption]
CCTVThe impact sent Simon flying[/caption]
CCTVBut he immediately got up – and went to the pub[/caption]
Before he had time to react, the bus hit him from behind – sending him flying down the pavement.
The double decker went on to mount the kerb before crashing into a building.
A viral CCTV clip showed Simon immediately get up, dust himself down and walk into the pub.
It has done the rounds again on social media this week – stunning a new generation of viewers.
At the time, Simon told The Sun: “I came down the street, it was early morning.
“I’d gone to pay in a wage cheque at my bank. I make that journey every Saturday. I didn’t think anything of it.
“Then you can see what happened from the CCTV. The video says it all.
“I didn’t tense because I didn’t know it was coming. After it I just wanted to get somewhere safe.”
HGV driver Simon added: “It’s quite funny everybody think I have gone for a pint.
“I was actually looking for a place of refuge when I went into the doorway of the pub.”
“But then I heard some banging behind me and I was hit from behind.
“I hadn’t lost consciousness so I knew what had happened. 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’.”
Simon said: “I feel very lucky to be alive. On another day I would have been with my wife and my five-year-old walking with them.
“I’m feeling quite traumatised that I should be dead and that could have been them.
“Time will tell but I don’t think I’ve broken any bones. It’s mostly extensive bruising and gravel rash.”
He added: “I’m very thankful to be here, because really I shouldn’t be here.”
Daniel Fraifeld, 50, who co-owns the Purple Turtle, said: “I think Simon pretty much got up, brushed himself down.
“Then an ambulance came and took him to be checked. He got looked over and didn’t have any lasting injuries.
“But he’s covered in scrapes and bruises. He then got released from the hospital and I think he just went for a pint to relax.”
‘MIRACLE’
Bus driver Cheikh Daouda Senghor, 41, admitted dangerous driving after the smash on June 24, 2017.
Senghor, from Wallingford in Oxfordshire, was given a suspended jail sentence and a 24-month driving ban.
He had worked as a Reading bus driver for four years before the smash.
A judge said it was a miracle that Simon managed to get up and walk away.
Reading Crown Court heard how Senghor “lost control” of his bus after quickly entering a chicane.
The prosecutor said Senghor accidentally put his foot on the accelerator – not the brake.
Senghor stopped at the scene and rushed to help Simon, who suffered two fractures to his shoulder and ribs and internal bruising.
Judge Paul Dugdale said: “It’s nothing short of a miracle that he was able to get up and walk into the Purple Turtle.
“It must have been quite shocking to him how close he came to really serious injury or worse that day.”
He told Senghor: “On this day you made a serious mistake when you were in a position of great responsibility.”
‘MAKING AMENDS’
Defending Senghor, Alex Dos Santos said: “He accepts that it was his fault.
“It was a mistake on his part. Mr Senghor has lost his employment. He wanted to apologise to the victim.
“He wants to make amends where possible. He deeply regrets what occurred.”
While Senghor was helping Simon, a thief stole his rucksack – which contained his passport and other valuables.
Senghor was given an eight-month prison sentence, suspended for a year.
He was ordered to carry out 250 hours unpaid work and undergo a rehabilitation activity requirement for five days.
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