A FATHER has today spoken about how he leapt into action to save a baby stuck under the wheels of a taxi.Glyn Stables, of Felix Road, was the first to spot 14-month-old Shannay Sheldrake under the taxi and shouted for the driver to stop before she was crushed.

A MAN has today spoken about how he leapt into action to save a baby stuck under the wheels of a taxi.

Glyn Stables, of Felix Road, was the first to spot 14-month-old Shannay Sheldrake under the taxi and shouted for the driver to stop before she was crushed.

Fortunately, tragedy was avoided, and Shannay is now at home recovering, having received cuts and bruises to her arms and head.

As revealed in yesterday's Evening Star the tot was taken to hospital on Thursday afternoon after a taxi driver collided with her when he reversed onto the drive of her home in Rydal Walk, near Priory Heath, Ipswich.

Father of two Mr Stables was on his way home from a school run when he saw the incident take place.

He said: “I saw this taxi reversing out of a drive and all of a sudden I saw something pink underneath it.

“At first I thought it was a doll and then realised it was a girl. I shouted for the taxi driver to stop and went over to her.

“You could hear her screaming. I bent down and saw her head was touching the engine. I reached out, held her hand and then pulled her out. This other person then took her and gave her back to her mum.

“I was really shocked. I just keep picturing her face under the car and couldn't sleep a wink afterwards.”

Shannay's mother, Monica Sheldrake, said she went into hysterics when she saw Shannay, her youngest child, under the vehicle.

The 28-year-old mother of four, said: “The car knocked her a bit and then it dragged her along as it moved forward. Her neck was bleeding and there was oil all over her. I was just in a panic and froze.

“Someone came along and pulled her out. It doesn't bear thinking about what could have happened. We are all trying to calm down about it.

“Shannay was very distressed by the whole thing. She was given morphine at the hospital and had to go through all these big machines to check her head for injuries. It has been really frightening for her.”

Miss Sheldrake's son, Brandon, eight, had got the taxi back home from school, and as it parked up on the drive, he got out, paid, with his sister Shannay by his side, and then turned away to give the change to his mother. The next thing they knew was Shannay was under the vehicle.

Suffolk Police said the driver was unaware the girl had been hit but returned to the scene later when he was called by police investigating the incident.

Have you ever rescued someone? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk.