Danny Cipriani reveals he was lucky not to DIE after being hit by a bus at the end of a 15-bar tour dressed as a WWE star on team night with Sale

Danny Cipriani has revealed he almost died after being hit by a bus and believes his late actions saved him from being involved in a fatal accident one night.

The former England rugby international was out with a group of Sale Sharks team-mates on a night out a decade ago when, in a moment of drunken insanity, he sprinted across the road and into the path of an oncoming bus.

Cipriani was taking part in a bar crawl known as the “Otley Run” with his colleagues at the time, and he stepped in front of a bus while attempting to run away from a member of the group.

The 35-year-old, who is still without a club, opened up about how he has struggled with alcohol and drugs in the past and believes he was lucky to escape with his life after the incident.

He writes in his memoirs Who Am I?, which is published by the SunDescribing the harrowing encounter, Cipriani said: “What would be the worst thing that could happen?” We almost made it to the last pub of the tour and I’m a little overexcited. I sneak up behind one of the boys and hit him on the back of the head and he starts chasing me.

Danny Cipriani has insisted he was lucky to survive a bus crash in 2013

Cipriani was with his Sale Sharks teammates when the clash occurred

“I keep walking, look over my shoulder and when I get to a bus stop, I look to the right, see a bus coming, assume it will stop and run.” BOOM!

“If I hadn’t jumped instinctively at the last second and crashed into the bus window instead of the grille, I would have been obliterated.” Legs crushed, possibly killed.

“As it is, I’m lying flat on my back on a stretcher surrounded by paramedics. “Not only did I suffer a concussion, but I tore the medial ligament in my knee,” he added.

‘Not bad, season’s over anyway.’ When I get out of the hospital I can’t resist tweeting: ‘Hard night. Feels like I’ve been hit by a bus…’

“People laugh at what I wanted.” But no one asks me how I’m really doing,” Cipriani said.

The injured Cipriani had to walk on crutches after the horrific accident

Cipriani (right) was previously selected by England but struggled to secure a place in the team

The bus’ windscreen was shattered when subjected to the brunt of the impact with Cipriani and curved inward on contact.

Paramedics rushed to the scene of the accident and he was taken to Leeds General Infirmary in an ambulance before being discharged on crutches.

Luckily, the fly half survived and made a full recovery, allowing him to continue his career in the sport.

However, Cipriani explained that he is still taking a prescription pain reliever called Tramadol after the clash, but openly admits he would like to stop the medication at some point.