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Duke of Edinburgh car crash: Barrister tells how he pulled 'shaken' Prince Philip from overturned Land Rover

A barrister has told how he pulled the “very shocked” Duke of Edinburgh from his Land Rover after it overturned in a crash.

Prince Philip, 97, walked away unharmed from the collision between his car and a Kia on Thursday.

But witness Roy Warne, 75, said the royal was left “very shocked and shaken” following the smash near the Sandringham Estate.

Mr Warne told how he helped pull the duke, who was left trapped after the crash, through the sunroof of his vehicle.

Prince Philip was said to have been uninjured after a crash on the Sandringham Estate (klfm96.7)
Prince Philip was said to have been uninjured after a crash on the Sandringham Estate (klfm96.7)

He told the Sun: “I looked down and had the Prince’s blood on my hands. All I could think is, thank goodness there wasn’t more.”

Philip shouted: 'my legs!" as he was pulled from the wreckage, the witness added.

The driver of the Kia and a female passenger needed hospital treatment following the accident.

A baby was also in the car with them, according to Mr Warne.

Norfolk Police confirmed both drivers were breathalysed as a matter of procedure and the tests proved negative.

But the force would not confirm whether there was a baby in the Kia.

Police were called to the scene at Sandringham at around 3pm
Police were called to the scene at Sandringham at around 3pm

Mr Warne said Philip’s Land Rover “came across the A149 like a somersault. It was turning on its side over and over".

He described how he helped Philip out of the vehicle, adding: "He stood up and was unharmed but was obviously very shocked."

Philip shouted: 'my legs!" as he was pulled from the wreckage, the witness said.

Officers were called to the A149 at Sandringham just before 3pm.

The Duke of Edinburgh arriving for the Queen's Christmas lunch at Buckingham Palace on December 19 (PA)
The Duke of Edinburgh arriving for the Queen's Christmas lunch at Buckingham Palace on December 19 (PA)

"The male driver of the Land Rover was uninjured. The female driver of the Kia suffered cuts while the female passenger sustained an arm injury, both requiring hospital treatment," the force said.

"We can confirm both casualties from the Kia have been treated at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King's Lynn and have since been discharged.

"The road remained open and both vehicles were recovered a short time later.

"It is force policy to breath test drivers involved in collisions. We can confirm both drivers were breath tested and provided negative readings."

The crash happened at the Babingley crossroads on a stretch of the A149 which runs between the town of King's Lynn and the north Norfolk coast.

It is single carriageway and has a 60mph speed limit.

A turning off the A149 to the east leads to the village of West Newton, and a private estate road to the west leads past St Felix Chapel, a British Orthodox church.

A wing mirror surrounded by shattered glass and broken plastic was left on the side of the Hunstanton-bound carriageway after the two vehicles were recovered, with tyre tracks across the verge.

A Buckingham Palace spokeswoman confirmed the duke was driving when the accident happened.

She added: "He saw a doctor as a precaution and the doctor confirmed he was not injured."

The spokeswoman would not comment on suggestions Philip may have been travelling with a passenger, who is likely to have been his close protection officer.

Philip and the Queen, who was informed about the accident, are staying at Sandringham, their residence during their traditional winter break.

The duke, who retired from public duties in the summer of 2017 and last April had a hip replacement operation, is known to remain active.