Football manager escapes death after freak squirrel accident

Wednesday, September 5, 2012
1:42 PM

Scunthorpe United manager Alan Knill has revealed he could have been killed after a freak cycling collision with a squirrel caused him to fly over his handle bars and crack his nut.

The former Wales player was cycling along unawares when the troublesome rodent got stuck in his wheels and sent him head over heels.

He escaped with cuts and bruises but says it could have been a lot worse.

“I got hit by a squirrel,” Knill told BBC Radio Humberside. “I went over the top of my bike and landed on my head, shoulder and neck.

“I saw it run into the road but couldn’t do anything about it and it just hit my wheel and stuck in my wheel and hit my brakes.

“For a minute, I thought I might have been in trouble because I landed on my head. Then, all of a sudden, I thought: ‘I’m not, I’m alive!’

“Fortunately my collar bone is OK but I am pretty bruised.”

Scunthorpe are currently rooted to the bottom of League One having lost their opening six games, but Knill says his narrow escape has put footballing matters in perspective.

“I could be dead and it’s so stupid,” he said.

“I’m not and you have to put things into perspective.

“The situation we’re in at the moment, I don’t cherish, but there are worse situations.”