Manchester United's Anderson escapes fiery car explosion

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Manchester United midfielder Anderson has been pulled unconscious from the wreckage of a burning car moments before it exploded, according to reports.

He escaped with only minor injuries after spending several hours in hospital following the crash on a rural road in the Geres area of Braga, Portugal.

Witnesses said the Premier League star, 22, owed his life to being pulled "lifeless" from the vehicle shortly before it went up in flames.

One witness told the Jornal de Noticias daily: "I thought he (Anderson) was dead.

"My brother dragged him out of the car, and we put out the flames before the entire car burned down."

The newspaper also quoted the Gestifute agency, Anderson's representatives, as saying: "It was an almighty fright."

The Brazilian player had reportedly spent the night at the Sardinha Biba nightclub before leaving in a £125,000 Audi R8.

The crash is believed to have happened at 7am on Sunday morning when the car came off the road and hit the wall of a farm before flying into a field.

The vehicle had just two seats but Anderson had two companions - a friend, named Victor, and a young Brazilian woman.

It was unclear who had been behind the wheel.

All three were treated for concussion, whiplash and shock and discharged from hospital later in the morning, reports said.

The woman is believed to have needed the most treatment after the crash, which is being investigated by police.

It is not yet known whether the star faces charges over the accident.

Jornal de Noticias quoted Gestifute as saying the player will soon return to his Premier League club to continue his recovery from a knee injury he sustained in February.

Anderson was unable to play in the World Cup after rupturing a cruciate ligament in his left knee and was not expected to be match-ready until September at the earliest.

Last season, Anderson was reported to have been docked two weeks' wages by manager Sir Alex Ferguson for returning to Brazil without permission after they had an argument.

A spokesperson for Manchester United was unavailable for comment.

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