A man had a miraculous escape after being run over by a double decker bus - with CCTV cameras capturing him getting straight up and walking to the pub.

Simon Smith, 53, was hit when the out-of-control bus mounted the pavement and ploughed straight into him in Reading on Saturday morning.

His head was thrown back by the impact, shattering the vehicle's windscreen, but moments later he got up, seemingly unharmed.

Astonishing CCTV footage shows him calmly walking into a bar moments later before sitting down in the doorway where bystanders, including a man wearing a Reading Buses top, rushed to offer help.

Image: Bystanders rushed to help Mr Smith

Daniel Fraifeld, 50, who co-owns the Purple Turtle bar, said: "I think he (Simon) pretty much got up, brushed himself down and then an ambulance came and took him to be checked.


"He got looked over and didn't have any lasting injuries - but he's covered in scrapes and bruises. He then got released from the hospital and I think he just went for a pint to relax."

The cause of the crash, which happened as Mr Smith crossed Gun Street at around 9am, is not known.

Image: Simon Smith was thrown to the ground

A Reading Buses spokesman said the driver had been "taken off the road" while an investigation is carried out.

He added: "We are obviously shocked by the incident as well as the very graphic footage... Thankfully, the pedestrian does not have any major injuries and there were no major injuries to passengers on the bus.

"We send our regrets to those affected, especially the pedestrian injured in the street, and hope that he is recovering from his injuries."

The bus also hit a bin and a building and then the wall of St Mary's Minister, coming to a rest in the middle of the road, surrounded by rubble.

A second person was also injured by debris and taken to Royal Berkshire Hospital for further treatment.