Bonnet Hairdryer Saves German Grandmother

A bonnet dryer saved a German grandmother from serious injury or worse when the ceiling of the salon where she was having her hair done collapsed, the Bild daily reported Friday.

"At first I didn't realise what was happening. You can't hear a thing under the bonnet," said Karin Koellner, 72, from Gladbeck in western Germany. "Then bits of the ceiling broke off. But the dryer worked like a protective helmet."

A shocked Nermin Karagad, owner of the "Cut and More" salon, told the paper: "I'm just happy nothing worse happened. The ceiling was redone seven years ago."

Two other people escaped with slight injuries in the incident on Thursday, police spokesman Michael Franz told Agence France Presse.