'I'M GOING TO DIE'
Pensioner trapped in car for 14 HOURS after electrical fault locks the doors and windows
The 75-year-old had gone to turn over the vehicle's engine before a short drive - but an electrical fault left him trapped inside
A TERRIFIED pensioner was left fearing for his life after being trapped in his car for almost 14 hours last month.
The elderly motorist became a prisoner in his 2006 Cadillac XLR roadster after an electrical fault prevented him from opening the doors or windows while the vehicle sat in his garage.
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American resident, Peter Pyros, had originally gone to his car to turn the engine over, and was planning on returning to his house briefly before taking the Cadillac out for a pre-winter drive,
But the 75-year-old experienced problems after getting into the car and failing to start it, only to find the electric door release buttons were also not working.
The XLR roadster uses an electronic button to open each door, rather than a conventional handle.
Pyros also didn't have a mobile phone on him, leaving him unable to call for help.
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After trying the key fob and even changing around the batteries, the pensioner became distressed as temperatures rose to around 25C outside, making conditions in the car increasingly dangerous.
While trying to smash the windows with his fists and feet, Pyros allegedly passed out twice, and eventually accepted that he would die inside the motor.
He told The Washington Post: “It was the most horrifying experience you can imagine.
“I accepted, at some point, that this is how I’m going to die.”
After close to 14 hours trapped in the hot car, a neighbour heard Pyros shouting for help and climbed over the fence to see the garage open.
The neighbour called emergency services, who were able to free the motorist by opening the bonnet and jump-starting the car to restore electrical power.
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But according to a statement made by Cadillac's parent company, General Motors, the car has manual handles on the floor next to each seat which would open the doors.
The company said each vehicle using an electronic door release also provides a way to manually unlock the doors in the event of a power failure.
Different models will have manual releases in slightly different locations, so the manufacturer advised motorists consult their owner's manual.