By LACHLAN MOORHEAD
THE manager of a Lynbrook petrol station who clung onto a moving car during a petrol drive-off last week ended up on crutches, after narrowly avoiding death.
Fady Rezk, manager of the United Petroleum in Lynbrook, said he would have likely died had he not let go before the car sped onto the Dandenong Hastings Highway.
He went to talk to the young female driver around 9.30pm last Thursday when she stamped on the accelerator and almost ran over Mr Rezk, who clung onto the car for 30 metres as it sped towards .
“When she took off, I was over the bonnet and I found myself in the next moment holding onto the ceiling of the car while she was speeding off to the highway,” Mr Rezk said.
“When I realised she was heading to the highway, I let go of the car because I knew if she took me onto the highway I would die.
“At that moment, you just think about all the stuff that will happen if you die – the consequences when you die.”
He was rushed to the Dandenong Hospital in an ambulance, sustaining several injuries.
Mr Rezk, who is currently reliant on crutches, stayed in hospital overnight after the frightening debacle in which he bruised his ankle, shoulder, face and scalp.
Mr Rezk said he was outside near the bowsers at the time when he saw the woman next to her car having what he thought was trouble using the petrol pump.
Dressed in his United uniform, Mr Rezk approached the woman to lend her some assistance, but as he reached her window she quickly got back in the car after filling up.
He said he would never have approached the car if he knew it was a petrol drive-off because it can be too dangerous.
“I want to warn others about this,” Mr Rezk said.
“People should take care, the nurse told me it was a mistake that I didn’t think she could hurt me.
“She didn’t care, she would have killed me.”
Mr Rezk alleged the woman was aged in her late-teens to early 20s and was driving a small, white Toyota.
It’s believed a male passenger was also in the car.
Anyone with any information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000, or submit a confidential crime report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.
