A COUPLE have described the moment an aircraft spiralled out of control and crashed into their garden.
Shocked Karen Dean, 50, was on the phone at home when she heard it nosedive into her garden, crashing through a tree just metres from her house.
Immediately, she called her partner, 55-year-old carpenter Mike Carter and told him to come home.
As emergency crews continued to secure the aircraft in Loweswater Close, Hatherley, yesterday, Karen and Mike spoke of their relief that nobody was injured, including the pilot who – incredibly – managed to walk away from the wreckage unhurt.
Karen, a project manager for Boots, was working from home at the time.
She said: "I just feel very lucky that it didn't go through my house. I heard a big bang.
"I was in the house at the time but I didn't see anything. I heard a whirring sound before the crash.
"My neighbour Adrian was already in the garden phoning 999 and the pilot got out and walked off for treatment.
"All the neighbours were told to evacuate.
"I'm in quite a bit of shock at the moment – you never think these things are going to happen to you.
"I just can't believe it. It's a relief that nobody was hurt."
Mike added: "I was at work when it happened and got a phone call from Karen to say a plane was in our garden.
"Of course, I couldn't believe it but, the closer I got home, it was clear something had happened.
"I hope it can be removed soon."
Air crash recovery teams spent yesterday securing the aircraft and emptying fuel from its engine to prevent any explosion.
It will remain in the garden for up to two days before it can be removed.
Mangled
The pilot, a 76-year-old from London, climbed out of the mangled aircraft following a dramatic parachute descent.
Builder David Shatford, 23, was the first on the scene.
He was working on a house in Langdale Road which backs onto Karen and Mike's garden.
He spotted the stricken aircraft in the sky above him, its orange parachute trailing.
As it plummeted towards the houses, he jumped off the scaffolding and ran to help.
He said: "I saw the plane come down, spinning over the top of the house, and then it crashed into the trees.
"I jumped off the scaffolding and managed to get the pilot out.
"He didn't say anything because he was very shaken.
"I was very scared at the time but managed to get him to safety"
OPINION, P8
