A TERRIFIED retired mechanic said he was nearly crushed by a lorry after breaking down on the M5 as dangerous drivers sped past.

Garry Bennett from Barbourne Worcester broke down in lane one just before junction five on Wednesday morning.

The 60-year-old said: “It was terrifying. I found myself stranded in a live motorway line with cars racing past me and beeping their horns.

“The electric had gone in the car so I was unable to use my hazard warning lights. I knew I had to get out of the vehicle, I checked the mirrors and got out the drivers side as quickly as possible.

“Out of nowhere this massive HGV comes speeding past and has to swerve to avoid me. He was so close he almost ripped the backside from out of my trousers with his horn blaring, he shouldn’t have had time to even think about his horn if he had to swerve that much.

“I nearly lost my life! It was really very scary, I was in shock. But, I made it to the reservation and stood behind the barrier,.

“Having no warning to incoming vehicles I rushed back a grabbed a yellow carrier bag to which I then frantically waved at on coming vehicles, do they see it? No. Do they see me? No. Do they see a vehicle that they are approaching really fast, maybe stationary? No.

“The driving I witnessed was absolutely shocking. I genuinely felt someone was going to be killed. Are these lunatics on the motorway blind and the Labrador is driving, makes me wonder. A Taxi doing 90mph had to swerve through all three lanes to avoid me and almost hit the central reservation. It is a real surprise to me that nobody died that day.

“I estimated 70 percent of drivers did not see the hazard and a large amount were speeding.Whilst I was stood there still warning the drivers with my bag I got loads of two fingers up and horns beeping, a few truck drivers acknowledged my efforts to warn them early, I thank them for their professionalism.

“When the Traffic Police came and managed to tow me to safety was when it really set in. I just thank my lucky stars nobody was hurt.

“My thanks go out to the officers involved , drivers need to be more alert, these guys are doing a very dangerous job and get very little recognition, please give them credit and space, a stab vest will not help them in a 70 mph impact. It's all very well having four lanes to keep traffic moving, but the removal of the hard shoulder is putting lives at risk.

“The Traffic Police in these Mitsubishi’s you see, do a thankless very dangerous job, trust me I have now seen it with my own eyes, please give them credit.”

Have you seen some questionable driving on the motorway? Tell us your story by emailing jemma.bufton@newsquest.co.uk