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Ten men lift car off grandmother pinned against fence at netball court

An elderly woman has been critically injured after she was struck by an out-of-control car and left trapped underneath while watching her granddaughter play netball in Sydney’s south.

The 66-year-old’s husband was also injured when the car rammed into the couple at a packed sports facility in Miranda.

The vehicle came to a halt when ramming into a fence, leaving the woman pinned underneath.

Witnesses described hearing a loud noise during the netball fixture before turning to the devastation caused.

The driver accidentally rammed into the couple, trapping the woman under her car. Source: 7News
The driver accidentally rammed into the couple, trapping the woman under her car. Source: 7News

“The games were happening, there were people playing everywhere, and then we just heard this terrible bang,” one witness said.

Sutherland Police’s Chief Inspector Gary Ford said a woman behind the wheel of the car appeared to have mistakenly placed her foot on the wrong pedal.

“It appears she may have hit the accelerator instead of the brake. In doing so she’s reversed into two people standing next to a motorcycle,” he said.

Parents rushed over to the couple, doing whatever they could to free the trapped woman.

The netball court was filled with players and spectators on Saturday morning. Source: 7News
The netball court was filled with players and spectators on Saturday morning. Source: 7News

“The ten blokes lifted the car and pulled the person out that was pinned underneath,” one witness recalled.

“They also pulled the fence away because the person was pinned behind the fence.”

Another witness labelled their efforts “amazing” as they lifted the 4WD from the ground.

The helping party included off-duty police officers and paramedics.

Off-duty firefighter Scott Henderson looked after the 66-year-old woman who had critical head injuries.

“She was conscious and breathing and talking to us. We were trying to crack jokes between the fiires and the ambos just to lighten the mood for her,” he said.

Off-duty firefighter Scott Henderson rushed to the aid of the trapped woman. Source: 7News
Off-duty firefighter Scott Henderson rushed to the aid of the trapped woman. Source: 7News

Her 62-year-old husband was also badly hurt. The couple were both taken to St George Hospital.

The woman remains in a critical but stable condition with head injuries and a broken leg while the man is in a stable condition.

Paramedics praised the quick actions taken to free them, preventing further injury.

“It’s exceptional that they’ve managed to lift it and certainly have assisted these two individuals,” William Brand, NSW Ambulance Special Operations, said.

The 73-year-old driver of the car was left shocked by the incident.

Many at the scene were left shocked by the accident and were given counselling and support. Source: 7News
Many at the scene were left shocked by the accident and were given counselling and support. Source: 7News

“She was obviously very, very heavily in shock, she was being comforted by family members,” Mr Henderson said.

Children who witnessed the crash were also left horrified and were given counselling and support at the scene.

“It’s pretty sad. I think the girls are a bit shaken up,” parent Natalie Denyer said.

While the injured couple remain in hospital, emergency services are thankful there weren’t further injuries with the fencing around the court protecting dozens of children in competition.

“There was a little girl leaning against the fence and she got catapulted off that,” one witness recalled.

The female driver is assisting police with their inquiries.