A Perthshire woman who was pinned against a wall by a bus claims being overweight saved her life.
Lena Tocher, 44, of Crieff, was taken to intensive care following the horrific accident, which took place at 3.40pm on November 6 on the town’s Broich Road as she made her way home from work at Wiltshire Farm Foods.
The wife and mother of two suffered major crush injuries after the accident with the double decker bus, including lacerated kidneys and liver, a broken femur, shattered pelvis, bruised and bleeding heart and broken bones in her back.
She was put in a coma and said she feels she is lucky to be alive.
“I was 19 stone when it happened and had just been diagnosed with an underactive thyroid two days before,” she said.
“I was told if it wasn’t for my weight I wouldn’t be here.”
She continued: “I saw the bus coming but it happened so quickly that I couldn’t do anything about it. I know it was the corner of the bus that hit me because I remember hitting on the driver’s window and the passenger door to tell him.
“I was going in and out of consciousness and remember lots of people around me.
“I remember coughing and seeing blood and asking whose blood is that.”
Lena is still being looked after at Crieff Cottage Hospital after being moved there from Ninewells Hospital, Dundee, and is on a slow road to recovery.
“I was told I would never walk again but I can now walk a short distance on crutches,” she added.
“My goals were to be able to wash and dress myself and be able to transfer myself in the wheelchair so that I wouldn’t be a burden and I have managed to do that.”
Many local residents have asked for improvements to road safety in Broich Road. This is despite Perth and Kinross Council widening a footpath and installing street lighting on the road.