Grandad threw himself from bike to escape

Biker Jim Shaw was forced to risk it all when the footbridge crashed right in front of him on the M20.

The 73-year-old grandad threw himself off his bike and slid for metres along the asphalt alongside his Yamaha MT-07, clearing the underside of the fallen bridge by inches.

The Thamesmead resident told the KM: “I was just coming back from the bikers’ cafe in Maidstone and I was planning to go back by Wrotham.

“As I came up to the bridge all hell broke loose. It happened very, very fast.

“I had no choice but to take the bike down and fall and slide under it. Somewhere or other me and my bike parted company and I came out the other side. I knew I’d broke something, probably a rib.”

Even as the drama unfolded across television screens, Mr Shaw said his wife Doreen didn’t find out he was involved until he was in hospital.

“She called up saying it was going to rain and I should take the washing in,” he said. “I said ‘No, I’m in hospital’.” Mr Shaw was released from Tunbridge Wells Hospital after treatment for three broken ribs on Wednesday. He was visited by several members of the relieved rescue team in his hospital bed.

He added: “The ambulance guys that delivered me to hospital actually popped in to see me, which was absolutely brilliant. They are really nice guys. The emergency services were superb on the day, you couldn’t have asked for better.”