A COUPLE who survived a road accident have paid tribute to the emergency services and hospital staff who helped them.

Allan and Eileen Tate, from Cavendish Court, Ferryhill, County Durham, were on their way to the cinema in Hartlepool, on February 11, when their car overturned on the A689.

Mr Tate, 60, said: "I was overtaking some wagons when there was a lot of turbulence and a cross-wind, and that's when the car just went out of control."

The car overturned three times and crashed into a lamppost in the central reservation, which stopped it from rolling into the path of oncoming traffic.

Mr Tate said: "Eileen can't remember anything because she was unconscious after the first roll, but when the car stopped we were hanging upside-down."

An off-duty police officer who saw the accident telephoned for help and paramedics were soon at the scene.

Mr Tate said: "From that stage everyone has been so helpful. The paramedics were sensational and the accident and emergency staff were brilliant. The same goes for the people the high-dependency unit and all the staff in the surgical ward.

"I've never experienced anything like this, and after all the bad press for the NHS, I found they were very positive and I can only commend them."

Mr Tate received minor injuries, but his 57-year-old wife suffered ten broken ribs, a punctured lung and a broken collar bone.

She is recuperating in the University Hospital of Hartlepool, but she is expected to take up to 18 months to make a full recovery.

Mr Tate described his escape as "miraculous" and added: "We're so lucky to be alive. I don't know who or what helped us, but we came through it."