A WOMAN had to be freed from her car after a boat that was being towed came loose and smashed into her car door.

Jay Saunders described the moment he left the One Stop store in Barrack Road and saw a boat “catapult through the air” and crash into his car with his wife Paula and five-year-old son, Archie, inside.

Police, ambulance and fire crews were called to the scene shortly before 8pm on Tuesday.

Jay said: “My wife and son were in the car, which was parked up while I went to the shop. There was a car driving towards Iford and, as I came out the shop, I saw the boat detach from the car and catapult through the air and crash into our car. I heard an almighty bang.

“The passenger door was curved in against her so the firefighters had to take the door off.”

Paula was taken to Poole Hospital with pain to her head, neck, back and legs. She was not seriously injured. Archie was not injured.

“We’re shaken up about it,” Jay added.

A recovery vehicle had to be called to take away the couple’s Vauxhall Zafira.

A spokesperson for Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service said: “Two fire appliances from Christchurch attended an RTC along Barrack Road. One casualty was released after a boat being towed on a trailer became loose and collided with a vehicle.”

A Dorset Police spokesperson said a grey Peugeot 407 was towing the boat, and they would be investigating the incident.

Steven Hogan, Paula’s father, told the Echo that if the boat had been “a few inches higher I don’t think I would have my daughter here today”.

“It could have gone through the window.

“The main police officer in charge also said that if the car wasn’t parked in front of the shop when it happened, there definitely would have been casualties as the shop was crowded with people.”

Steven, who is a photographer, said he was out taking pictures on Tuesday evening when he got a call from his wife about the crash.

“She was screaming down the phone and I went over and saw the carnage there.

“The emergency services were there and seemed to have everything under control. I was grateful for the way they were dealing with it.”

Steven said his daughter was now recovering at home.

“She did have some cuts from the glass and she’s now suffering from pain down her side which she will see her GP about.”