A Current Affair fail: Pensioner reversing video divides

A story by A Current Affair about a pensioner that has had her car trapped by construction site scaffolding has been widely mocked online.

A story that appeared on A Current Affair about a pensioner who claimed her car had been trapped by construction site scaffolding has been widely mocked online.

Port Melbourne pensioner Janette told the program she is unable to reverse out of her carport thanks to scaffolding that has gone up at a nearby construction site.

“Not even with a ten-point turn,” the frustrated 78-year-old said.

Janette said she was informed by building company Icecorp the scaffolding would be erected from October 16 to November 12, 2023.

Janette reversing her car. Picture: X / Alexis Daish

Janette demonstrates how difficult it is to reverse her car. Picture: X / Alexis Daish

The program filmed the unfortunate situation Janette found herself in. Picture: Facebook / A Current Affair

Diligently, the pensioner removed her car from her carport on October 12, but when the scaffolding was still not there after six days she returned her car only to find herself locked in when the scaffolding was subsequently put up.

Four months later the scaffolding is still there.

Janette told the program she was “frustrated, considerably”.

“Just remove the scaffolding so I can get my car out,” she said exasperated.

However, a preview of the story by ACA journalist Alexis Daish was widely derided by social media users.

One person wrote “she clearly can’t drive a car”.

“You can turn the steering wheel and that moves the wheels right?”

Janette is a 78-year-old pensioner. Picture: Facebook / A Current Affair

‘It’s frustrating’, Janette said. Picture: Facebook / A Current Affair

“Omg how much room does she think she need for that little car?,” a second commented.

“It’d help if she turned the damn wheel. If she can’t get out of there, she needs to hand her licence in.”

Others couldn’t resist a jibe A Current Affair.

“You said hard hitting journalism is dead?,” one wrote.

“Breaking news, old woman can’t drive,” a second quipped.

A spokesman for City of Port Phillip council told the program the builder is “complying with its planning permit”.

“Our council has no authority to compel a builder to work faster,” the spokesman said.

Meanwhile the builder told the program the scaffolding would thankfuly be removed in four weeks time.