Argyll crash man survives in car for three days

A PENSIONER survived in his car for three days after crashing down a river bank on a rural road near Argyll.

Dr McFadyen was taken to Paisley's Royal Alexandra Hospital. Picture: PA

Dr Alastair McFadyen, 77, crashed into the River Cur near Cairndow, Argyll, on Thursday August 29 and was not found until a passer-by spotted the car on the following Saturday.

It was reported that Dr McFadyen, a retired historian, survived by soaking up water from the outside of the windscreen with a handkerchief and dabbing it on his lips.

When he was found he was taken to the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley where he remains in a stable condition.

Dr McFadyen told the Daily Record: “It might sound strange, but I never believed I wouldn’t be found.

“I couldn’t see any blood, so I thought, ‘That’s OK then.’ I made several attempts to call for help, but it didn’t work.

“The food I’d just bought was in the boot, along with my mobile phone, but I couldn’t get to them.

“I was able to dip a handkerchief into some raindrops on the outside of the vehicle to moisten my lips, but no more.”

The 77-year-old’s friends raised the alarm when he failed to return home but no trace of him was found until police were contacted at around 8pm on the Saturday night.

He was airlifted to hospital and is said to be doing well.