Cottesloe Sports Physiotherapy evacuated after crash triggers major gas leak, three injured
Jeff Boyle was treating a client about 4pm Thursday afternoon when a Hyundai hatchback barrelled straight into the wall at his workplace, Cottesloe Sports Physiotherapy, on the corner of Stirling Highway and Napier Street.
It's believed the car was trying to turn onto Napier Street when it was clipped by a ute, causing the car to careen through the parking lot and into the corner of the building.
'Just by pure chance, when the car struck the building I was on the other side, so I was actually well protected,' Dr Boyle said.
The impact of the crash sent parts of the double-bricked wall flying into the room, knocking Dr Boyle on his back and injuring his client.
'The wooden cabinet up against the wall has just exploded, and bits went everywhere,' he said.
Police, St John WA, the Department of Fire and Emergency Services and State Emergency Services attended the scene.
Paramedics took a man in his 80s and a woman in her 90s to Royal Perth Hospital's state trauma unit, where they remain serious but stable.
Dr Boyle's patient, a man in his 60s, was also taken to RPH for treatment.
'My client was hit by some of the debris . . . he's got significant bruising on his arm,' he said.
'He was lucky to not have head injuries.'
The car had also hit the gas main at the clinic, causing a major gas leak and evacuation of the roughly 13 people inside at the time.
Cottesloe Sports Physiotherapy director Brett Slocombe said he was 'very proud of the staff' who acted quickly to get everyone out.
CCTV footage from the incident also shows a car reversing into a parking bay out front, before being clipped by the out-of-control Hyundai as it crashes into the building, sending cracks through the brick wall.
'There was a lady in the car park slowly reversing . . . she just gets into the car space and gets glanced,' Mr Slocombe said.
'She narrowly escaped a nasty injury.'
Dr Boyle, who worked with the Fremantle Dockers for more than two decades as the club's top physiotherapist, said he was lucky to walk away unscathed.
'I was probably 10 to 15 seconds away from being severely injured. But I walked away without a scratch on me,' he said.
'It's all about the milliseconds.'
Mr Slocombe, former Olympic physio of the national swimming team, said he was also thankful it was school holidays as it meant fewer kids were around.
'Normally, it's the time of day where there's kids everywhere, it's just very fortunate that there were no pedestrians hurt,' he said.
SES volunteers spent a few hours propping up the corner of the building to ensure its safety before removing the wrecked car.
Police say inquiries are ongoing and urge anyone with information related to the incident to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or
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