0:00:02 > 0:00:05A close call. A moment of danger when life can hang in the balance.
0:00:05 > 0:00:08I could die here, this is really serious.
0:00:08 > 0:00:11A split second where the outcome could go either way.
0:00:11 > 0:00:13Right, call 999 now.
0:00:13 > 0:00:15The difference between disaster and survival.
0:00:15 > 0:00:17You could see it on the faces of the crew,
0:00:17 > 0:00:19how life-threatening this was.
0:00:19 > 0:00:20Why would you need to swim?
0:00:20 > 0:00:22Apparently, they're supposed to still be on a boat.
0:00:22 > 0:00:25These are the people that have been there and lived to tell the tale.
0:00:25 > 0:00:27I thought she had died.
0:00:27 > 0:00:29It's a day they'll never forget,
0:00:29 > 0:00:32the day they had a close call.
0:00:47 > 0:00:50Today on Close Calls...
0:00:50 > 0:00:51a tyre blowout on a motorway
0:00:51 > 0:00:55causes a car to rebound violently off the central reservation.
0:00:55 > 0:00:57The car was completely out of control.
0:00:57 > 0:01:00The driver is sent flying through the windscreen,
0:01:00 > 0:01:02landing in the middle of the motorway.
0:01:02 > 0:01:04Other motorists are stunned.
0:01:04 > 0:01:07And then was left on the road, I did actually think the worst.
0:01:10 > 0:01:15And a canal boat sinks beneath the water, a woman is left on deck.
0:01:15 > 0:01:18There wasn't much time, we had seconds.
0:01:18 > 0:01:20My partner said, you'd better grab her.
0:01:23 > 0:01:24Also today,
0:01:24 > 0:01:28a new dad cycling home from work enters a roundabout
0:01:28 > 0:01:30but a driver doesn't see him.
0:01:40 > 0:01:43The M20 near Crawley, West Sussex.
0:01:43 > 0:01:46A lorry driver's dash cam captures a small car
0:01:46 > 0:01:49travelling at 70mph in the fast lane.
0:01:49 > 0:01:52A split-second later a tyre blowout
0:01:52 > 0:01:54sends it careering into the crash barrier.
0:01:56 > 0:01:57- Oh,- BLEEP!
0:01:57 > 0:02:00It rebounds, somersaulting across the carriageway.
0:02:01 > 0:02:04The car's driver is flung from the vehicle
0:02:04 > 0:02:07right into the path of oncoming traffic.
0:02:09 > 0:02:11Another trucker rushes to his aid.
0:02:11 > 0:02:14I actually didn't think he was alive, to be quite honest.
0:02:14 > 0:02:16I did actually think the worst.
0:02:28 > 0:02:31Telecommunications worker Saqib lives with his parents
0:02:31 > 0:02:35in Crawley, Sussex, along with his brother and sister.
0:02:35 > 0:02:36They're a close family.
0:02:36 > 0:02:39I'm not really somebody who is always going out,
0:02:39 > 0:02:43always trying to get out of the house, I'm more a home person,
0:02:43 > 0:02:46I like going to work, coming home, having family around.
0:02:46 > 0:02:49As long as there is food around, it's always good.
0:02:50 > 0:02:54But 22-year-old Saqib's aiming to fly the nest soon,
0:02:54 > 0:02:57he and his girlfriend have big plans.
0:02:57 > 0:02:59Hopefully this year I will be getting married,
0:02:59 > 0:03:01that's my main focus,
0:03:01 > 0:03:05I want to get just settled down now and then kind of build my life from here.
0:03:05 > 0:03:07That means saving his cash,
0:03:07 > 0:03:12so keen driver Saqib sacrifices a much-loved car and downsizes.
0:03:12 > 0:03:15Love the cars, my wallet doesn't agree, so...
0:03:15 > 0:03:18I had a BMW 1 series, I sold that,
0:03:18 > 0:03:21and I thought, OK, my street cred might go down
0:03:21 > 0:03:24but I'll get a small car and I can save a lot of money.
0:03:25 > 0:03:29Saqib's doing all he can to build a bright future,
0:03:29 > 0:03:33but one split-second on the road threatens to end everything.
0:03:35 > 0:03:38It's a cold Friday morning in January,
0:03:38 > 0:03:42Saqib has the day off work and decides to make the most of it.
0:03:42 > 0:03:45My missus works in Gatwick, I was going to get her, we were
0:03:45 > 0:03:50going to go from there to go to London and just have a nice day out.
0:03:50 > 0:03:55Saqib is five minutes into his journey driving along the M23 towards Gatwick.
0:03:55 > 0:03:59He comes up behind two lorries side-by-side,
0:03:59 > 0:04:02one's in the slow lane, the other's in the middle lane.
0:04:02 > 0:04:05I don't like being behind lorries because of the size of my car
0:04:05 > 0:04:06so I went into the overtaking lane.
0:04:07 > 0:04:10One of the lorry drivers has a dashboard camera,
0:04:10 > 0:04:15his footage shows Saqib's small car now ahead of him in the fast lane.
0:04:15 > 0:04:18But what it records next is truly shocking.
0:04:20 > 0:04:23One of Saqib's rear tyres blows.
0:04:23 > 0:04:26Losing control, he swerves towards the central reservation.
0:04:27 > 0:04:30I was thinking, OK, I'm going to hit somebody,
0:04:30 > 0:04:32I'm going to go over the central reservation and hit into
0:04:32 > 0:04:35oncoming traffic, what if there's a child in the car, what if
0:04:35 > 0:04:38there's a family travelling, so all I did was just read a prayer.
0:04:38 > 0:04:40This is what follows.
0:04:42 > 0:04:44- Oh,- BLEEP!
0:04:47 > 0:04:50After the tyre blow out, Saqib's car smashes into the central
0:04:50 > 0:04:55crash barrier and rebounds, somersaulting across the road.
0:04:55 > 0:04:58A quick-thinking truck driver takes evasive action,
0:04:58 > 0:05:00pulling onto the hard shoulder.
0:05:00 > 0:05:05Saqib's car only just misses the lorry crashing down behind him.
0:05:05 > 0:05:08But Saqib is thrown from his vehicle.
0:05:08 > 0:05:12He lies motionless on the tarmac, his head in the middle lane.
0:05:12 > 0:05:15The lorry driver with the camera reacts in horror.
0:05:15 > 0:05:18- Oh,- BLEEP!
0:05:20 > 0:05:25He pulls up in time as another car passes by in the fast lane.
0:05:25 > 0:05:28Other drivers behind come to a halt.
0:05:29 > 0:05:33Another trucker, Rich, sees the whole crash from high up in his cab.
0:05:33 > 0:05:37The car was completely out of control, as it was rolling.
0:05:37 > 0:05:39I saw the lad fly out of the driver's side window
0:05:39 > 0:05:41and then lay lifeless in the road.
0:05:41 > 0:05:44It was the way he got thrown from the vehicle was pretty horrific.
0:05:44 > 0:05:48The camera shows Rich rushing to help Saqib
0:05:48 > 0:05:50but he's afraid of what he might find.
0:05:50 > 0:05:53I actually didn't think he was alive, to be quite honest,
0:05:53 > 0:05:55I thought, I did actually think the worst.
0:05:55 > 0:05:57Even if he was alive, I didn't think there'd be much,
0:05:57 > 0:06:00of his face left, to be quite honest.
0:06:01 > 0:06:05The camera cuts out just before Rich reaches Saqib
0:06:05 > 0:06:09but as he gets close he realises the young man is still breathing.
0:06:10 > 0:06:13It was definitely a relief to see that he was conscious
0:06:13 > 0:06:14cos he made groans.
0:06:14 > 0:06:17His eye was completely shut, more or less completely shut
0:06:17 > 0:06:20and he had quite bad lacerations around here.
0:06:21 > 0:06:23There was quite a bit of blood on the road.
0:06:23 > 0:06:26Saqib is conscious and tries to move.
0:06:26 > 0:06:29He did try getting up, actually,
0:06:29 > 0:06:31but I sort of forced him to stay down cos I definitely thought
0:06:31 > 0:06:35he'd have serious head injuries, 100%.
0:06:35 > 0:06:38He did say that his legs were hurting him
0:06:38 > 0:06:41and then I think he went into a bit of shock cos he was shaking quite a lot.
0:06:41 > 0:06:45That's when we obviously got more, more warm clothing
0:06:45 > 0:06:48to cover him up with until proper help got there.
0:06:49 > 0:06:52Paramedics arrive quickly and get Saqib off the road
0:06:52 > 0:06:56and into an ambulance. He's alert but confused.
0:06:57 > 0:07:00I was asking the paramedics, was there anybody else involved?
0:07:00 > 0:07:04Because all I remember is the car spinning towards the central reservation.
0:07:04 > 0:07:07It was reassuring when they said to me nobody was involved.
0:07:10 > 0:07:13He could have serious internal injuries so the ambulance crew
0:07:13 > 0:07:16rush him to the major emergency department
0:07:16 > 0:07:18at St George's Hospital, London.
0:07:19 > 0:07:23Throughout the journey the pain in his legs remains.
0:07:23 > 0:07:26I was thinking, OK, if I have broken my legs,
0:07:26 > 0:07:28kind of how is my life going to be?
0:07:28 > 0:07:30Because I'm quite active, I play a lot of sports,
0:07:30 > 0:07:33it would have had a big impact on my life, but once I'd kind of
0:07:33 > 0:07:37got to the hospital and calmed down and understood what happened
0:07:37 > 0:07:39I think I was just thankful to actually still be alive.
0:07:39 > 0:07:44Astonishingly, apart from concussion and obvious cuts and grazes,
0:07:44 > 0:07:48doctors discover Saqib has no serious injuries.
0:07:49 > 0:07:52I had bumps, bruises, cuts everywhere,
0:07:52 > 0:07:55I think my right leg was very sore but, to be honest, I'm not
0:07:55 > 0:07:59somebody that will complain because of how worse it could have been.
0:07:59 > 0:08:02But his family and girlfriend are shocked when they see him.
0:08:04 > 0:08:08All of my family, it was quite hard to kind of take it in
0:08:08 > 0:08:10cos I'm quite bubbly and I'm always up and laughing and joking about,
0:08:10 > 0:08:13to see me like that was quite, I think, hard for them.
0:08:14 > 0:08:17Some weeks later, apart from pain in his legs,
0:08:17 > 0:08:19Saqib's other injuries have healed.
0:08:19 > 0:08:22He still can't remember the accident clearly,
0:08:22 > 0:08:26but watching the lorry driver's footage, he sees the full horror.
0:08:28 > 0:08:31When I look at it, it's almost as if you're in...
0:08:31 > 0:08:33I'm in disbelief that I'm actually watching it, I think,
0:08:33 > 0:08:35that's the biggest thing.
0:08:35 > 0:08:38I think when I'm watching it, I'm sitting here and I'm thinking, OK,
0:08:38 > 0:08:40that's not me, that's somebody else.
0:08:42 > 0:08:43- Oh,- BLEEP!
0:08:44 > 0:08:48Saqib can't understand how he came to be thrown from the vehicle.
0:08:48 > 0:08:52My general routine is putting my seat belt on and driving off.
0:08:52 > 0:08:55I feel like it's a big thing to wear your belt, but on that day
0:08:55 > 0:08:58I don't know if I had it on or not cos I don't remember the journey.
0:09:00 > 0:09:02After watching the video of his accident,
0:09:02 > 0:09:05Saqib contacted lorry driver Rich to thank him for his help.
0:09:07 > 0:09:09It was a good feeling to know he was actually all right,
0:09:09 > 0:09:12I don't actually understand how he is still here, to be quite honest,
0:09:12 > 0:09:16but it is remarkable that he's alive and just with scratches.
0:09:16 > 0:09:21Saqib's accident has given him a fresh perspective on life.
0:09:21 > 0:09:23It's quite amazing that I'm here.
0:09:23 > 0:09:27This accident shows you don't know if tomorrow's guaranteed,
0:09:27 > 0:09:29so just live life to the fullest,
0:09:29 > 0:09:32I think that's the biggest thing to do.
0:09:32 > 0:09:35Obviously, getting married as well, hopefully this year, so, yeah,
0:09:35 > 0:09:37it's got me in the right mind-set.
0:09:43 > 0:09:46Coming up... a couple on an evening stroll
0:09:46 > 0:09:50rush to the aid of a cyclist hit by a car at a roundabout.
0:09:50 > 0:09:53It was really shocking. There's a bit of a chill goes through you
0:09:53 > 0:09:56cos you start to think, well, how badly is he hurt?
0:10:05 > 0:10:08The Kennet & Avon Canal, near Reading, Berkshire.
0:10:09 > 0:10:12A narrow boat navigating a lock begins to sink
0:10:12 > 0:10:14but a woman is still on deck.
0:10:14 > 0:10:18The lady was on the boat, shouting across that the water was coming in.
0:10:18 > 0:10:20You could hear the panic in her voice.
0:10:20 > 0:10:22There's nothing you can do.
0:10:32 > 0:10:35Engineer Martin and his wife Penny were teenage sweethearts.
0:10:35 > 0:10:38They got together nearly 50 years ago in Portsmouth.
0:10:39 > 0:10:41We met through friends.
0:10:41 > 0:10:45Wasn't meant to happen but then this is how things work, isn't it?
0:10:45 > 0:10:48I don't think she'd planned to see me the second night,
0:10:48 > 0:10:52but I was driving along and come across her standing at a bus stop
0:10:52 > 0:10:55and stopped to offer her a lift and it went from there.
0:10:55 > 0:10:57It was obviously meant to be.
0:10:57 > 0:10:58She's my soul mate, really.
0:11:00 > 0:11:02When the couple retired, they decided to indulge
0:11:02 > 0:11:05their shared passion for boating on the canal
0:11:05 > 0:11:07near where they now live in Basingstoke.
0:11:07 > 0:11:12They went on to buy their very own narrow boat, the Lady Jane,
0:11:12 > 0:11:14built in the 1970s.
0:11:14 > 0:11:18We had to strip it out, rebuild it, but it was a work of love
0:11:18 > 0:11:22because it was something that we were both enjoying.
0:11:22 > 0:11:26I spent a couple of years restoring it and working on it.
0:11:26 > 0:11:28But once we got it going, it was an absolutely beautiful boat.
0:11:28 > 0:11:30Beautiful boat.
0:11:30 > 0:11:34Martin and Penny fell in love with life aboard the Lady Jane.
0:11:34 > 0:11:38Any opportunity we could, we would take it out.
0:11:38 > 0:11:40The countryside, the quiet.
0:11:40 > 0:11:44Just the still water, it was lovely. It was lovely.
0:11:44 > 0:11:48It was a really laid-back, relaxing, wonderful existence.
0:11:49 > 0:11:51And they're grateful to the Lady Jane
0:11:51 > 0:11:55when Martin is told to take it easy after major stomach surgery.
0:11:55 > 0:12:01It gives them the opportunity to take a relaxing break on the nearby Kennet & Avon Canal.
0:12:01 > 0:12:04We thought, you know, this would do him the world of good.
0:12:04 > 0:12:07We were on the up so we went out on the boat.
0:12:07 > 0:12:10The two-week trip is everything they hoped for.
0:12:10 > 0:12:12That is until the very last day.
0:12:15 > 0:12:18It's a beautiful summer's afternoon, as Martin and Penny
0:12:18 > 0:12:21enjoy a leisurely cruise back to their home mooring at Reading.
0:12:23 > 0:12:25Everything was fine. We were coming up to Fobney Lock,
0:12:25 > 0:12:28that's a lock we'd passed through many times before.
0:12:28 > 0:12:33Locks are used to raise and lower boats to different water levels along the canal.
0:12:33 > 0:12:38The couple need to rise five metres to access the homeward stretch of water.
0:12:38 > 0:12:41I got off the boat, Penny stayed on the boat.
0:12:41 > 0:12:42Everything was fine.
0:12:42 > 0:12:46We were just coming to the top and so therefore
0:12:46 > 0:12:49Martin would have been opening the gates.
0:12:49 > 0:12:53Penny stands on the back of the boat as the waters raise it up
0:12:53 > 0:12:58but suddenly she realises the water isn't only pouring into the lock.
0:12:58 > 0:13:00There was water round my ankles.
0:13:00 > 0:13:03It was just pouring in.
0:13:04 > 0:13:06Panic stricken, she calls to her husband.
0:13:06 > 0:13:11I heard Penny shout, "There's water coming in, there's water coming in, the boat's sinking."
0:13:12 > 0:13:16I didn't understand what had gone wrong but I could see the boat had started listing.
0:13:16 > 0:13:19Water is completely flooding the boat.
0:13:19 > 0:13:22Still on the rear deck, Penny's going down with it.
0:13:22 > 0:13:24I've had operations on my arms.
0:13:24 > 0:13:28If I'd have got in that water, I would have had trouble getting out.
0:13:28 > 0:13:30By then, she was in total panic.
0:13:30 > 0:13:33Absolute fright and fear...
0:13:35 > 0:13:37..and I did scream.
0:13:37 > 0:13:41Martin on the opposite side of the lock is powerless to help his wife,
0:13:41 > 0:13:44but Penny's screams have alerted Nadine and her partner Danny,
0:13:44 > 0:13:46out for an afternoon stroll.
0:13:46 > 0:13:50The lady was on the boat, shouting across that the water was coming in.
0:13:50 > 0:13:52You could hear the panic in her voice.
0:13:52 > 0:13:55You know a boat sits nice in the water. This weren't sitting.
0:13:55 > 0:13:58It was sitting too heavy at the back and the front was rising.
0:13:59 > 0:14:01The couple know they must help.
0:14:02 > 0:14:05There wasn't much time. We had seconds.
0:14:05 > 0:14:07My partner said, you'd better grab her.
0:14:07 > 0:14:10Danny acts, running quickly to the side of the lock.
0:14:10 > 0:14:14My arms up, just shouting, "Get me off, get me off!"
0:14:14 > 0:14:16I had to go full reach,
0:14:16 > 0:14:20and use all of my might to pull her to safety.
0:14:20 > 0:14:21I was just gone.
0:14:21 > 0:14:24And it was quite a height.
0:14:24 > 0:14:27Just as Danny pulls Penny onto the side of the lock,
0:14:27 > 0:14:31an onlooker begins to film, using a mobile phone.
0:14:31 > 0:14:35Penny can be seen on the floor, still holding on to the boat's rope,
0:14:35 > 0:14:38Danny in the striped shirt is beside her,
0:14:38 > 0:14:40Martin has just reached them.
0:14:41 > 0:14:45Relieved Penny is safe, but seeing their beloved boat sinking fast,
0:14:45 > 0:14:48Martin runs to the lock gates to try and lower the water level.
0:14:49 > 0:14:53Danny heads to the other end but both know it's futile.
0:14:53 > 0:14:55There's nothing you can do.
0:14:57 > 0:14:58I was holding on to this rope,
0:14:58 > 0:15:01and I was just thinking, what am I doing?
0:15:01 > 0:15:05What am I doing? And our lovely boat was just going down.
0:15:05 > 0:15:07You know.
0:15:09 > 0:15:15The boat vanishes to the bottom of the five metre lock in less than 25 seconds.
0:15:15 > 0:15:18Had Penny still been on board,
0:15:18 > 0:15:21she risked being trapped under the rear cover.
0:15:22 > 0:15:26To know how close we had come to possibly being a disaster was unbelievable.
0:15:26 > 0:15:30Penny is safe but all the couple's belongings
0:15:30 > 0:15:34and two years of loving restoration work are at the bottom of the canal.
0:15:36 > 0:15:40It takes several days before the Lady Jane can be recovered
0:15:40 > 0:15:43by the river canal rescue team, led by Pete Barnett.
0:15:44 > 0:15:49When we got to Fobney Lock and we saw that the boat was completely submerged,
0:15:49 > 0:15:52we knew it was going to be a long day because we have to seal that
0:15:52 > 0:15:57boat completely up before we can get any pumps in it to get it raised up.
0:15:58 > 0:16:00They cover the boat with a large tarpaulin,
0:16:00 > 0:16:03then pump the water out from inside the hull.
0:16:03 > 0:16:08Once you start pumping, it draws the sheet in and seals all the holes,
0:16:08 > 0:16:10and then you can get the water out.
0:16:10 > 0:16:13Once you pass that buoyancy point,
0:16:13 > 0:16:15Archimedes rule, she'll float on top.
0:16:17 > 0:16:20The team discover what caused the Lady Jane to sink.
0:16:20 > 0:16:24A propeller inspection hatch, known as a weed hatch,
0:16:24 > 0:16:26at the rear of the boat has become dislodged,
0:16:26 > 0:16:29allowing the water to flood in.
0:16:30 > 0:16:34When she's brought to the surface, the Lady Jane is a total write-off.
0:16:35 > 0:16:38Very distressing, seeing the boat in the state she was
0:16:38 > 0:16:41cos I'd spent all that time and effort of restoring the boat over
0:16:41 > 0:16:45the last two years and I knew I never had the heart to do it again.
0:16:46 > 0:16:51But the couple know the most important thing is they still have each other.
0:16:51 > 0:16:52I could have lost my wife...
0:16:54 > 0:16:58..obviously, and that would have totally ruined my life forever.
0:16:59 > 0:17:02My heartfelt thanks go out to Danny.
0:17:02 > 0:17:05Without him, I don't like to think what would have happened,
0:17:05 > 0:17:08it would have been a different story.
0:17:08 > 0:17:10People at work saying, oh, you're a hero and that
0:17:10 > 0:17:14but I just don't see it like that. I just see me being there
0:17:14 > 0:17:17at the right time and just managed to help her.
0:17:18 > 0:17:21He was wonderful. He was wonderful.
0:17:33 > 0:17:36Penny owed her life to a complete stranger that day
0:17:36 > 0:17:40and when things go wrong it's often a passer-by who's the first
0:17:40 > 0:17:42to pitch in and help, as we're about to see.
0:17:48 > 0:17:50St Neots, Cambridgeshire.
0:17:50 > 0:17:54A cyclist on his daily commute home from work.
0:17:56 > 0:17:58He's on a deadline -
0:17:58 > 0:18:01he wants to be home to put his young son to bed.
0:18:02 > 0:18:07He approaches a roundabout, he's just five minutes from home.
0:18:07 > 0:18:10His helmet camera captures what happens next.
0:18:15 > 0:18:19I opened the door and a lady said "I'm an off-duty police officer,
0:18:19 > 0:18:23"I've been with your husband. I think it's best if you come with me."
0:18:33 > 0:18:37Software support specialist Alistair is a keen cyclist.
0:18:37 > 0:18:41I started cycling mainly as a means to actually get to work
0:18:41 > 0:18:43and it just sort of turned into a hobby and I started doing
0:18:43 > 0:18:47a couple of events, things like the London to Brighton bike ride.
0:18:47 > 0:18:49I've done that four or five times now, I think.
0:18:51 > 0:18:54Pushing the pedals has come with added benefits too.
0:18:54 > 0:18:58Five or six years ago, I was sort of about 17 or 18st
0:18:58 > 0:19:00and I had some blood pressure issues and things like that.
0:19:00 > 0:19:04And Alistair has a very good reason for wanting to keep fit and well.
0:19:06 > 0:19:09His family. He and wife Kelly have been together for nine years.
0:19:09 > 0:19:15We met when she was studying for her degree at De Montford University.
0:19:17 > 0:19:20The Batman outfit Alistair wore that night instantly caught Kelly's eye.
0:19:20 > 0:19:22He thinks he's very funny.
0:19:22 > 0:19:25I suppose that's one of the things that attracted me to him.
0:19:25 > 0:19:28He is funny, really. Just don't tell him.
0:19:29 > 0:19:31Four years later, they were married,
0:19:31 > 0:19:34and now have an 18-month-old son, Travis.
0:19:34 > 0:19:36He's a really good dad.
0:19:36 > 0:19:39It's lovely to see him with Travis. They spend a lot of time together.
0:19:41 > 0:19:44When he's not at home with his family, Alistair's at work.
0:19:44 > 0:19:47He cycles to his office, just over ten miles away,
0:19:47 > 0:19:49and enjoys the commute,
0:19:49 > 0:19:54but Kelly isn't so keen on her husband's daily mode of transport.
0:19:54 > 0:19:58I worry about him every time he leaves the house on his bike.
0:19:58 > 0:20:01To help ease Kelly's worries,
0:20:01 > 0:20:03Alistair invests in a new bit of kit.
0:20:03 > 0:20:06I wear a helmet cam for safety, primarily.
0:20:06 > 0:20:08But secondly, where it's visible,
0:20:08 > 0:20:10I find it's actually a deterrent as well.
0:20:10 > 0:20:14I think I've had less occasions where I've wished I'd had
0:20:14 > 0:20:17a camera since actually I've had it because it can be seen
0:20:17 > 0:20:18and I can be seen to be wearing it.
0:20:18 > 0:20:22But even with the helmet camera, Kelly isn't reassured.
0:20:22 > 0:20:24There's a lot of crazy people out there,
0:20:24 > 0:20:27drivers don't have the patience, so they don't want to wait.
0:20:27 > 0:20:31To lessen Kelly's concerns, the couple come up with a plan.
0:20:31 > 0:20:34They install a clever app on their smartphones
0:20:34 > 0:20:37so Kelly can track her husband's cycle route to and from work.
0:20:37 > 0:20:41So we just press the home button and I say, "Where's my husband?"
0:20:41 > 0:20:43And he says, "Where's my wife?"
0:20:43 > 0:20:47It's mainly I do it when he's riding his bike,
0:20:47 > 0:20:50and he sets a notification to tell me when he gets to work.
0:20:51 > 0:20:54It's a warm summer's evening in August.
0:20:54 > 0:20:57Alastair lets Kelly know he's on his way home.
0:20:57 > 0:21:01He's taking his normal route along the A1, turning off at Barford.
0:21:01 > 0:21:04It's about 45 minutes, door to door.
0:21:04 > 0:21:06It was pretty much an ordinary day.
0:21:06 > 0:21:09Sort of unlocked my bike from work and just basically set off.
0:21:10 > 0:21:13Also out and about that pleasant summer's evening are local couple
0:21:13 > 0:21:16Paul and Sue going for a stroll.
0:21:17 > 0:21:21We set off on one of our usual routes, heading out of the estate,
0:21:21 > 0:21:23and we were going to cross the main road, down by the river,
0:21:23 > 0:21:26do a loop around and then come back again.
0:21:27 > 0:21:32As they begin their trip, Alistair is close to finishing his.
0:21:32 > 0:21:34I was pretty much home.
0:21:34 > 0:21:38It was the last roundabout that I have to go across on the main road.
0:21:38 > 0:21:42At home, Kelly checks her phone to see where Alistair is.
0:21:42 > 0:21:45It's nearly bedtime for their young son, Travis.
0:21:45 > 0:21:48I tried to wait cos he does like to see Daddy
0:21:48 > 0:21:51and Daddy likes to see Travis before he goes to bed.
0:21:53 > 0:21:55On the last leg of his journey, and just minutes from home,
0:21:55 > 0:21:58Alistair approaches the last roundabout.
0:21:58 > 0:22:01His head cam records every second.
0:22:02 > 0:22:05I signalled to turn right...
0:22:06 > 0:22:10..waited for a couple of cars, one that was in front of me
0:22:10 > 0:22:12and then there was another car that came round as well,
0:22:12 > 0:22:16and I waited for that. I then joined the traffic behind that car,
0:22:16 > 0:22:18going round the roundabout.
0:22:19 > 0:22:23But he doesn't see the car coming at speed straight towards him
0:22:23 > 0:22:25from the exit ahead.
0:22:25 > 0:22:28All I'd heard was the wheels screeching on the ground.
0:22:28 > 0:22:33Alistair's camera captures the moment the car takes his bike from underneath him.
0:22:34 > 0:22:38And then I felt the impact and then I just flew.
0:22:48 > 0:22:50HE BREATHES HEAVILY
0:22:50 > 0:22:54His gasps for breath are audible as he struggles to understand
0:22:54 > 0:22:55what's just happened.
0:22:55 > 0:22:58I remember thinking, I want to get home, I want to see my wife,
0:22:58 > 0:23:01I want to see my son, I want to put him to bed, I want to you know...
0:23:03 > 0:23:05..sort of be a dad.
0:23:06 > 0:23:10Paul and Sue reach the roundabout just as the accident happens.
0:23:10 > 0:23:15The head cam footage shows them approaching the junction on foot.
0:23:15 > 0:23:17It was almost in slow motion, really.
0:23:17 > 0:23:21As he came round, suddenly there was this car and a screech of brakes
0:23:21 > 0:23:23and the poor chap was in the road.
0:23:23 > 0:23:25It was really shocking and you know,
0:23:25 > 0:23:28your heart starts pumping and, you know,
0:23:28 > 0:23:31there's a bit of a chill goes through you
0:23:31 > 0:23:34because you start to think, how badly is he hurt?
0:23:34 > 0:23:37I hit the ground pretty hard.
0:23:37 > 0:23:40My first thought was, have I lost a leg or something?
0:23:40 > 0:23:42Is everything still there? And it kind of was.
0:23:42 > 0:23:44And then the pain in my legs,
0:23:44 > 0:23:47where my bike had hit my legs, came through.
0:23:47 > 0:23:50And I remember just rolling over and then lying back and putting my head
0:23:50 > 0:23:52on the ground and going, "Oh!"
0:23:54 > 0:23:57Paul and Sue know they need to help.
0:23:57 > 0:24:00I immediately ran forward to see if he was all right
0:24:00 > 0:24:02and to make sure he didn't move at all.
0:24:02 > 0:24:05Stay there, mate. Don't try and get up. All right.
0:24:05 > 0:24:08Just lay there.
0:24:08 > 0:24:14There was obviously something wrong because he wasn't getting up.
0:24:14 > 0:24:17We both stood by Alistair just to try and alert the traffic that
0:24:17 > 0:24:22was coming and I'd got my mobile out and called the ambulance.
0:24:22 > 0:24:25How old are you?
0:24:25 > 0:24:27I'm 30.
0:24:27 > 0:24:2830.
0:24:28 > 0:24:32As Alistair lies injured in the road, at home, Kelly,
0:24:32 > 0:24:35unaware of the accident, checks her phone once more.
0:24:35 > 0:24:36Being an anxious wife,
0:24:36 > 0:24:39I looked again because it should only take in five minutes to get from there
0:24:39 > 0:24:42and he still wasn't home, he was still in the same place.
0:24:44 > 0:24:46Barely half a mile away,
0:24:46 > 0:24:49Alistair is slowly beginning to regain his senses.
0:24:49 > 0:24:54The next thing sort of I saw was a guy sort of standing over me.
0:24:54 > 0:24:57I approached him and impressed upon him to
0:24:57 > 0:25:00just to stay still for a moment
0:25:00 > 0:25:03to ascertain if he'd been badly injured.
0:25:03 > 0:25:05My first thought was,
0:25:05 > 0:25:09can he see something that I can't see that's wrong?
0:25:09 > 0:25:10That was a bit frightening for me.
0:25:11 > 0:25:13But as luck would have it,
0:25:13 > 0:25:15two other people have seen the commotion
0:25:15 > 0:25:18and they are both off-duty police officers.
0:25:18 > 0:25:21I'm a police officer, that's why I've stopped. OK?
0:25:21 > 0:25:22I'm not going to move you.
0:25:22 > 0:25:27Someone's called an ambulance. What's your name?
0:25:27 > 0:25:30- Alistair.- Alistair. OK. What's hurting? Your back?
0:25:30 > 0:25:33One of the officers does a quick basic medical check.
0:25:33 > 0:25:35Grab your toes.
0:25:35 > 0:25:38Yeah, I can feel that.
0:25:38 > 0:25:39Yeah. OK?
0:25:39 > 0:25:41That's all fine, yeah.
0:25:41 > 0:25:44- How about bending your leg up? - Yeah.- Leg all right?
0:25:44 > 0:25:46Yeah, that's fine.
0:25:46 > 0:25:48There are no obvious serious injuries
0:25:48 > 0:25:50and with busy traffic still flowing past,
0:25:50 > 0:25:54it's decided to move Alistair to the safety of the pavement.
0:25:54 > 0:25:56- All right?- Yeah.
0:25:56 > 0:25:59How are you doing? Don't go too quick. Don't go too quick.
0:26:03 > 0:26:05With an ambulance on its way,
0:26:05 > 0:26:08one of the police officers heads to the family home.
0:26:08 > 0:26:11I opened the door and a really nice lady said,
0:26:11 > 0:26:13"I'm an off-duty police officer.
0:26:13 > 0:26:17"I've been with your husband, he's fine, he's alert, he's talking.
0:26:17 > 0:26:18"He's standing.
0:26:18 > 0:26:20"We've moved him off the road,
0:26:20 > 0:26:23"but I think it's best if you come with me."
0:26:23 > 0:26:26Kelly's worst fears have come true.
0:26:26 > 0:26:30Now she knows why the phone app showed Alistair was stationary.
0:26:30 > 0:26:35She grabs baby Travis and rushes to be at her husband's side.
0:26:35 > 0:26:37I was shaking and nervous and worried
0:26:37 > 0:26:41and then when I actually saw him, it was a big relief.
0:26:41 > 0:26:44And I tried to hold it together for him, I didn't want to upset him.
0:26:44 > 0:26:46But quite emotional, so...
0:26:48 > 0:26:51She has an acute sense of what she might have lost.
0:26:51 > 0:26:52Love of my life.
0:26:54 > 0:26:55Father of our child and...
0:26:58 > 0:27:00Yeah.
0:27:00 > 0:27:02With Kelly and Travis at his side,
0:27:02 > 0:27:06Alistair begins to realise just how lucky he's been.
0:27:06 > 0:27:07I kind of did a body check,
0:27:07 > 0:27:11just sort of started looking at things like my arm and my hands
0:27:11 > 0:27:15and I realised that I had some sort of quite bad sort of road rash
0:27:15 > 0:27:17on my knuckles and my arm.
0:27:17 > 0:27:19And that's where the pain was.
0:27:19 > 0:27:22Kelly spots the driver who hit him.
0:27:22 > 0:27:24He's obviously really upset by what had happened.
0:27:24 > 0:27:30He was shaking, so I just went and said to him that, you know, he's OK.
0:27:30 > 0:27:34Later, the motorist agreed to go on a driver's awareness course
0:27:34 > 0:27:36but wasn't prosecuted.
0:27:37 > 0:27:41After his amazing escape, Alistair heads home with his family.
0:27:41 > 0:27:43It was just nice having a cuddle
0:27:43 > 0:27:46and just makes you realise how lucky you are.
0:27:46 > 0:27:47It could have been very different.
0:27:47 > 0:27:50Don't even want to think about how different.
0:27:58 > 0:28:00It was all about transport today.
0:28:00 > 0:28:03We had the lot - cars, bikes, and boats.
0:28:03 > 0:28:05But, thankfully, everyone came through.
0:28:05 > 0:28:07See you next time on Close Calls.