Driver trapped in air as ramp closed while vehicles were boarding
A lorry driver was trapped in the air after the ramp onto the Calais to Dover ferry rose while the vehicle was being driven onboard. Cars were queuing to board the Irish Ferries vessel from Calais to Dover just after 8pm on Sunday when the ramp began to close.
A truck sitting on the ramp was gradually at least three metres into the air - leaving the driver trapped. Adrian Cann, 36, whose car was two vehicles back, said he was worried it would roll backwards.
Staff came to assist after about five minutes, he said, and the ferry sailed for Dover at 8:30pm - about 20 minutes late, he said. Adrian said: "It was pretty scary - I couldn't believe it.
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"I was on the ramp when the van in front started reversing with his indicators on. I couldn't see past him so didn't know what was going on. Then I saw the van in front of him in the air.
"You wouldn't think it was possible for the doors to open while something is on them. You'd think there'd be a sensor and a mechanism that stops them from being able to close if something is on them, or a member of staff who can press a button to stop them if this happens.
"I was really surprised that there were no staff to guide us. People were just getting out of their cars to see what was going on."
Staff eventually directed the driver out of his truck then lowered the doors and the vehicles continued to board, he said. Irish Ferries has been approached for comment.