Published: Tuesday, 2nd February, 2010 2:05pm

Horror crash man half an inch from death

by Eric Baxter

A GREENOCK man suffered horrendous injuries after being hit by a car.

Shaun Mullan sustained a broken ankle, fractured left shoulder and dislocated right shoulder after being thrown through the windscreen.

Doctors told his family a stone embedded in his head would have killed him if it been half-an-inch lower.

The 27-year-old, who is now facing two months in hospital, was crossing Inverkip Street at the Green Oak Bar on Saturday afternoon when he was knocked down by the car. Initial reports said he had suffered only broken bones, but he is more seriously injured than at first thought.

Mr Mullan has undergone two full body scans at Inverclyde Royal Hospital.

His brother, Paul, said: "We've been told by the hospital he had a stone embedded in his head - and that if it had been half-an-inch lower it would have killed him.

"It was underneath his scalp, just above his temple.

"He suffered a fractured left shoulder, a dislocated right shoulder that will need an operation and his right ankle is smashed.

"His back is also badly grazed."

Mr Mullan, of Mallard Crescent, had just got off the Burns Square bus following his first day back at work after the Christmas holidays as a labourer on the site of the new All Saints School, which is due to open next week.

Mr Mullan was then to be transferred to the site of the new Clydeview Academy.

He had helped a woman with a pram off the bus and then started crossing Inverkip Street, above, to get another bus up to Branchton.

Mr Mullan was hit by a car going down Inverkip Street towards the town centre.

Paul said: "He will be in hospital for a couple of months and will need about six months to recover after he is released.

"It's absolutely shocking that this could happen to a guy who is just going home from his work."

Police said no-one would be charged in connection with the accident.

Return to: Homepage | News Index | This article