Doorman Trampled In Rush For 'Wonder' Drug
Sydney API. A department store worker trampled under foot on Saturday in a stampede for the new cellulite treatment known as Cellasene, suffered broken ribs, concussion and a fractured nose, it was revealed.
32 year-old James Dougan, who was released from hospital last night, was knocked unconscious when more than 600 women surged forward as the doors opened. Many had queued in the rain for over 3 hours outside Tolley's in Brisbane to get hold of a new herbal capsule, which is claimed to get rid of cellulite.
In just 20 minutes the store had sold out of its 3,000 packet allocation.
The drama began at 9 a.m. when the store's automatic sliding doors jammed. Dougan had to manually part them but was unable to avoid being knocked over in the charge that followed.
28 year-old Sandra Lee who was near the front of the line said, "I could see what was about to happen. Everyone was pushing to get in the store. When the doors opened it was just like a race and you simply got carried along with it. I saw this chap stumble backwards trying to get out of the way but he fell down the two steps that go down into the shop. Although I was being shoved forward, I managed to miss treading on him. But then the others just swarmed in and I couldn't see him any more".
Another shopper, Linda Thomas aged 36 said, "There were six people across and tens deep trying to push their way in. You were just forced forward into the store. I remember thinking I had trampled over someone's coat. How awful to find out it was that poor man".
Meanwhile Dougan is recovering from his ordeal at home. He told The Courier, "I was knocked unconscious and cannot recall a thing until I woke up in hospital. Apart from my injuries, massive bruises and about a million footprints, I'm ok. I feel I'm lucky to be alive to be honest firstly and that secondly, I didn't get a heel in my eye, although my face did get trodden on as you can see".
The rush was prompted by the Prime Time TV program appearance of Dr. Graham Malouf on Dispatches last week, who said that Cellasene appeared to "rid the body of cellulite."
The launch of Cellasene across Australia caused havoc in many cities. One department store auctioned its last packet for AUS$2,000. The normal selling price is AUS$59.