Posted on 04/03/2009 5:40:42 PM PDT by woofie
Eileen Bishop said she was "half asleep" when the scooter charged off
An 87-year-old Cornish woman was rescued by police five miles from home when her mobility scooter sped off out of control.
Eileen Bishop, from Perranporth, and her husband Anthony were on their way to church when, he said, she "disappeared off the radar".
Officers later found her heading along the A3075 towards Newquay.
A police community support officer (PCSO) rode the scooter back and said it appeared to be working correctly.
'Full tilt'
Mr Bishop said the incident began when he and his wife set off for St Michael's church.
He said the scooter, which "hadn't been going that well", was set to three-quarters speed. "Suddenly she passed me at full tilt,"
Mr Bishop said. I was half asleep to tell you the truth Eileen Bishop
"I shouted after her but she is a bit deaf. I couldn't chase her as I've had a triple heart bypass.
"She just disappeared off the radar."
Mr Bishop said he and a neighbour searched for his wife and then went to the police station to report her missing.
"I was just about in tears," he said.
Officers found Mrs Bishop after a motorist reported a mobility scooter "swerving" across the road near Pendown Cross, five miles away.
Mrs Bishop said she was not sure how she got separated from her husband.
"I just lost him. I was half asleep to tell you the truth," she explained.
It took PCSO Michael Ginnelly an hour to drive the scooter back to Perranporth.
"I think Mrs Bishop just gripped the controls and went too fast and held on for dear life," he told BBC News.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.bbc.co.uk ...
Eileen Bishop
These things need more regulation
Another reason I’m against the “Free Scooters for Geezers” program.
Motorcycle ping?
So was anybody in this story conscious?
She just went for a Sunday ride, that’s all...
Officers eventually found 87-year-old Eileen Bishop five miles away
Yeah, I saw that.... LOL... definitely a Sunday drive... :-)
“Another reason Im against the Free Scooters for Geezers program.”
How about pre-geezers? Would give us time to learn how to handle one these mean mo-chines.like learning how to ride a bike.
Are these things allowed in the streets here?
The victim
She should have had a Cougar 9000. It’s the Rolls Royce of wheelchairs.
I’m 63. I have a couple of these things in four-wheel version, front wheel drive. hey operate off of a joy stick. The extra mobility allowed me to be the saws man when putting down hardwood flooring in my home this week. I had the things ste on fast mode and the hammer man said it was like I was running at full tilt back and forth from inside to outside at the saws. Also allows me to carry things again ... I use two canes to walk, so carrying things had become obsolete behavior.
Nice deer guard.
Was this thing made by Audi?
Glad the machine helped you . Someone somewhere will develope a 4 wheel drive version with mudders on it , with as much rain as we’ve had lately a 4WD is a needed thing,
Until battery power becomes more, shall we say ‘extended’, I will try to confine my travels to paved areas and only my yard. But when the batteries do make that quantum leap, I want a set of those tread rollers like they use in the Artic on trucks.
I want to know about Mr. Bishops radar set up on his scooter.
Can I get one with a TOW missile attachment...?
Sounds like a Benny Hill escapade.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.