AN attempt to recreate a scene from the hit movie Dirty Dancing left a pub-goer in hospital with a horror leg break that will keep him off work for months.
Gary Mackay heard the sickening sound of his leg snapping after a woman friend jumped and tried to wrap her legs around his waist in an Inverness bar.
The 28-year-old collapsed in agony but claims he was lifted up by bouncers, taken out through the fire escape and left on a bench.
After he was taken to hospital, the barber needed a three-hour operation to insert two bolts and a metal rod in his leg and faces being off work for three months.
The incident happened as Gary, from Inverness, and friends were enjoying a Saturday night out listening to a local covers band.
A woman, described by Gary as a friend of a friend, decided to try an ambitious dance move straight out of the legendary 1987 hit movie.
Gary said: “It came out of nowhere. We were just talking about leaving – I wasn’t even dancing with her. She just jumped up at me and wrapped her legs around me.
“I wasn’t expecting it and I heard my leg snap.
“When I wasn’t getting up I think the band realised and they stopped.”
He added: “I knew it was broken straight away – my foot just flopped to the side. I was screaming, I was asking for someone to get me some help. I didn’t want to get up. I wanted a paramedic to come and help me.
“I remember her still standing there when I was shouting. I did hear her saying “I heard it snap”. That’s the last I remember – I was just in so much pain.
“Eventually the bouncers put their arms around me and lifted me up. They just put me on a bench outside the fire exit and left me there.”
Doctors confirmed he had broken his leg in two places at the ankle and knee and he endured several days in hospital as well as a lengthy operation.
Gary said he had not heard from his dance partner since the accident.
He said: “The worst thing is she’s tiny – it’s just the way she caught me. She’s about 5”4 and she’s skinny.
“She’s not been in touch but she’s told my workmate she’s mortified and sorry.”
Don Lawson, owner of Johnny Foxes, said: “There was a mix of horseplay and alcohol which didn’t end well. A man and his friend were recreating a scene from Dirty Dancing. He fell funny which resulted in him breaking his leg.”
He added: “We lifted him to a safer part but he declined when we asked him if he wanted us to call an ambulance. His friends just took him.
“Our primary concern is for the chap who broke his leg. We hope he makes a speedy recovery.”
