EWAN'S BIKE TREK ALMOST ENDED IN DISASTER

EWAN McGREGOR's recent round-the-world motorbike trek almost ended in tragedy when he was hit by a car on the last leg of the three-month adventure in Calgary, Canada.

The actor and pal CHARLEY BOORMAN had travelled through Russia and Mongolia before arriving in North America, and were delighted to be back in civilisation after months spent in some of the most remote areas on earth.

But, just as they were planning their final few days, McGregor was almost killed.

In his forthcoming TV documentary about the trip, McGregor explains, "We were riding up toward the brow of a hill when the traffic ahead of us slowed suddenly. Charley put his hazard lights on. Riding at about 60 miles an hour, I reached forward to put my hazard lights on.

"There was a screech of tyres and then the bike went completely out of control. It happened so fast.

"Charley said afterward that he saw it all in his wing mirrors: 'Out of nowhere, a red car just whammed into the back of you,' he said afterward. 'Your front wheel went straight up in the air, almost vertical, then slammed down on the road. Your handlebars were weaving from right to left to right to left. Somehow you managed to stay on and came to a stop.'

"All I could remember was a bang, suddenly being out of control, seeing a big grass ditch about six feet deep to my left, and thinking I was going to topple into it.

"I pulled off to the side of the highway, put my bike on its stand, and got off unharmed... It could have been very nasty, but I came away without a scratch."