Briton hit by bus gets up, then enters pub

Mr Simon Smith was hit by a bus in the UK, but calmly got up and walked into a nearby pub immediately afterwards
A screen grab from video footage showing Mr Simon Smith struck by an out-of-control bus in the British town of Reading last Saturday.
A screen grab from video footage showing Mr Simon Smith struck by an out-of-control bus in the British town of Reading last Saturday. PHOTO: YOUTUBE

READING (Britain) • "Keep calm and carry on" - the spirit of this famous British slogan was embodied by 53-year-old Simon Smith when he was struck in the back by an out-of-control bus in the town of Reading, British media reported.

Video footage shows Mr Smith crossing the road last Saturday when a double-decker bus suddenly mounts the curb behind him. In the video, he turns around at the commotion, but is unable to get out of the way and the bus smashes into him, sending him flying and leaving a huge crack on its windscreen.

The impact of the crash is so great that Mr Smith is flung a distance away on the pavement as the bus continues to smash into a shopfront, sending debris flying everywhere, The Daily Mail reported.

Video footage of the moment shows a plank from the damaged shopfront falling on Mr Smith as well. However, even as concerned bystanders rush over from the other side of the road, he wastes no time in getting to his feet and calmly walking into a nearby pub.

The co-owner of the pub, Mr Daniel Fraifield, told BBC South Today: "I think (Mr Smith) pretty much got up, brushed himself down, and then an ambulance came and took him to be checked."

Mr Fraifield added: "(Mr Smith) 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."

Mr Smith, who suffered minor injuries, told reporters from BBC South Today that he felt he was "lucky to be alive".

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on June 29, 2017, with the headline Briton hit by bus gets up, then enters pub. Subscribe