A 'miracle escape' salon owner has described how the business bounced back after a car missed her by inches when it crashed through her shop window, almost killing her and her dog.

Nicole Le Poidevin, co-owner of Heatwave Worcester in Canada Way, Lower Wick, has called for bollards to protect shop fronts on the anniversary of the incident, still fearing it could happen again.

Shocking video from two different angles, reveals just how lucky Miss Le Poidevin and dog Frank are to be alive as the car came within inches of crushing them both last September.

Despite the horrific incident, the business itself is stronger than ever in the aftermath. Everyone escaped unscathed, including the driver.

Miss Le Poidevin, who runs the business with her mum and co-owner Susan, 59, was sitting at the reception when she was alerted to the danger by her barking rescue dog, a two-year-old Cocker Spaniel from Poland.

Miss Le Poidevin, 27, can be seen pulling her dog out of the way by the lead as the car accelerates and ploughs through through the window and into the reception desk during the freak accident.

The impact was so severe it not only smashed the reception but destroyed two interior walls, buckled a third and wrecked two sunbeds, causing between £40,000 and £50,000 worth of damage.

CRUSHED: One of the sunbeds crushed on impact by the car which went through the window of Heatwave Worcester in Canada Way, Lower Wick, Worcester CRUSHED: One of the sunbeds crushed on impact by the car which went through the window of Heatwave Worcester in Canada Way, Lower Wick, Worcester (Image: Supplied by Heatwave)

Miss Le Poidevin of Powick said: "It is possible it could happen again. There's nothing to stop it really. 

"There is no reason why businesses and people walking along the path should not be protected. It is lucky nobody was walking in front of the window. 

"It feels like a miracle escape. The glass folded over the dog and he got himself out, totally uninjured.

CRUSHED: The aftermath of the crash at Heatwave tanning salon in Lower Wick, Worcester which has bounced back despite all that's happened CRUSHED: The aftermath of the crash at Heatwave tanning salon in Lower Wick, Worcester which has bounced back despite all that's happened (Image: Supplied by Heatwave)

"I do feel lucky to be alive. It could have been a lot worse for me and for the woman in the car. The car came within inches of the dog. I saved his life but I would not have known to do that unless he had barked at the car."

Frank has developed some behavioural issues since the incident and she does not bring him to the shop in case he's 'bad luck'.

The business was closed for three and a half months after the incident at around 12.30pm on Tuesday, September 26 last year. 

Insurers covered the repair costs but the family has yet to receive any compensation for loss of earnings. 

HORRIFIC: The moment of impact as Nicole Le Poidevin pulls her dog Frank out of the way of the car as it ploughs through the front of Heatwave tanning salon in Canada Way in Lower Wick, Worcester last year HORRIFIC: The moment of impact as Nicole Le Poidevin pulls her dog Frank out of the way of the car as it ploughs through the front of Heatwave tanning salon in Canada Way in Lower Wick, Worcester last year (Image: Supplied by Heatwave)

Firefighters had to free the driver of the car, a woman in her 70s, following the crash. Police and the ambulance service also attended.

Miss  Le Poidevin said: "We are so grateful for the support of our clients, new and old, who bore with us throughout all of this. We will be treating them to more upgrades in the next few weeks. It's been a tough year but a nice year."

HERO: Frank the dog barked to alert his owner to the danger then Nicole Le Poidevin returned the favour by pulling him out of the way of the car during the incident HERO: Frank the dog barked to alert his owner to the danger then Nicole Le Poidevin returned the favour by pulling him out of the way of the car during the incident (Image: Supplied by Heatwave)

Despite all that happened, the business has not only retained loyal customers but gained new ones.

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The family business, which has six tanning beds, a beauty room and a spray tan facility, opened in November 2019 only to be hit by successive Covid lockdowns. 

Miss Le Poidevin's mum arrived at the salon to find her daughter crying and shaking, holding the dog but her friends rallied behind her, leaving work early to help clear the debris and support her.

She added: "One of Nicole's friends was due on the first sunbed. She was late. As she parked up she saw the woman smash the car through the window. If she had been on time for her bed, there's a chance she would have been stood there chatting to Nicole. We count our blessings."