A TEENAGER was lucky to escape with his life when he fell under the wheels of a car - as he fled from a gang of thugs. Scott Sanderson, aged 18, was run over as he lay face down in the busy carriageway. Scott, of Petunia Walk, Little Hulton, tripped as he ran away from five attackers at Parrin Lane, Monton.

The factory worker was taken to Salford's Hope Hospital with head injuries, a fractured jaw, broken teeth, facial cuts and bruised ribs. He was later transferred to North Manchester General Hospital but is expected to be allowed home tomorrow.

Scott's mum Susan, aged 46, today said his escape was a miracle: "He was very lucky. The front of the car went right over him."

She slammed the gang and appealed to the public to help catch them.

"They want shooting for what they did. Scott was out for a quiet drink with a mate celebrating his birthday and he was lucky not to end up dead. He's a lovely lad and I just hope these people are caught soon." Scott was set upon after he tried to protect a woman after leaving the Blue Bell pub in Parrin Lane at 11.30pm on Saturday.

Scott, his friend Alan Worthington, 23, and two girls got into a taxi when a row erupted between one of the girls and a man on the road.

Police said Scott got out of the taxi and was then punched and kicked by the man and four other youths.

He tried to run away but fell on to the road. The elderly woman driver stopped and comforted Scott before ambulance paramedics arrived.

Det Chief Insp Dave Crompton, head of Swinton CID, said Scott's injuries could have been far more serious: "He has been remarkably lucky. The injuries he suffered from the assault eventually proved to be more serious than those caused by the road accident."

Witnesses are asked to contact Crimestoppers on the free phone number 0800 555 111.

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