[Top: A screwdriver embedded in the calf of Mrs Wu Ruidi]

SHE escaped death when a screwdriver dropped from a high-rise building narrowly missed her head, piercing her leg.

But when Mrs Wu Ruidi, 37, went to a hospital for treatment, another rude shock awaited her.

Because there were too many patients, she was told that her operation could only be scheduled the next day.

That night, she had to sleep with 12cm of the screwdriver embedded in her right calf.

She said she was given only painkillers.

Mrs Wu (right) couldn't sleep much, but neither could she toss and turn in bed as the slightest movement could worsen the injury.

She said: 'I worried the whole night that my calf would be ripped open.'

Mrs Wu said she tried to ask the doctor for an earlier operation, but to no avail.

The incident happened at 12.20pm on Tuesday, when she was walking outside a dessert shop at Aberdeen, near the south shore of Hong Kong Island.

Suddenly, she felt a sharp pain in her right calf. It was so excruciating that she screamed and collapsed to the ground.

She looked down and saw the plastic handle of a screwdriver protruding from her leg as blood spurted out.

It is believed that the screwdriver had been dropped from quite a height, as the sharp end was buried deep into her leg.

Just missed head

It missed her head by about 15cm, claimed Apple Daily.

If she had been a few seconds slower, the screwdriver might have pierced her skull or her back.

Ambulance staff decided not to pull out the screwdriver in case they caused more damage.

So they bandaged the screwdriver to her leg and sent her to hospital.

When her bus driver husband, known only as Mr Huang, heard about the accident from her, he took urgent leave and rushed to the hospital.

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