A navy officer smashed his way into an upturned vehicle to help an elderly woman whose car had careered into a large concrete barrier in Dundee.
The drama unfolded after the woman’s car overturned on Riverside Drive next to the old entrance to the railway station on Sunday.
Members of the public rushed to assist the woman, who is believed to be in her 70s.
Onlookers said the car flew through the air before landing on its side.
The woman’s injuries are not believed to be serious however witnesses said she had suffered a large gash to her head.
Neil Dickie, a Merchant Navy officer from Stobswell, created room through the back window so that he and an off-duty doctor could climb through.
He said his instincts kicked in when he saw the woman still sitting dazed and confused inside the car.
“I immediately grabbed my wheel key to break through the rear windscreen,” the 34-year-old said.
“I managed to crawl through it with my first aid kit and then pushed the passenger seat forward to get to her.
“She had a big gash on her head that was bleeding quite badly but there weren’t any other injuries visible.
“The crash had such an impact that, as well as the extensive front bonnet and wheel damage, some of the interior had also been crushed.
“I turned the ignition off and then tried to unlock the doors from the inside but I couldn’t get them open.”
Mr Dickie said the “amazing” doctor, he only knew as Sarah, then arrived to give the woman some treatment and hold her hand until 999 crews got there.
Within minutes, an ambulance arrived followed by fire crews from Blackness Road, who began the effort to cut her free.
The woman, who was conscious but in pain, was eventually freed using hydraulic equipment almost an hour after the crash.
She was taken by ambulance to Ninewells Hospital. Her condition was not known last night.
Mr Dickie said: “Everyone at the scene was just amazing.
“People immediately rushed to help and do what they could. It was great to see.
“I wish the injured woman all the best.”
No other vehicles are believed to be involved in the collision, which happened around 11.30am.
The road, one of the main routes into the city centre, was closed to eastbound traffic by police for some time afterwards while debris was cleared.
