Cathy Misrahi rushed to her husband's bedside and asked: "What have you done this time?"

Her policeman husband is no stranger to hospitals - he has broken an ankle, a shoulder and on this occasion had fractured his right knee.

Andy Misrahi, a 41-year-old father-of-two, was thrown into the air by a car which failed to stop.

PC Misrahi grabbed a windscreen wiper and tried desperately to hang on as the vehicle sped away.

He said: "The next thing I knew I was on the road with a sharp pain in my knee."

He was recovering today at Worthing Hospital and will undergo surgery later this week. He will be off work for six months.

PC Misrahi has been inundated with get-well messages from colleagues and friends.

One bunch of flowers came from residents on his old beat in Highdown and Southwick Street, Southwick.

He received a commendation in 2000 for chasing and rugby-tackling a suspect near Brighton Marina.

PC Misrahi held on to the villain but broke his shoulder in the action.

He said: "I've also broken an ankle so I reckon I've had my three mishaps now.

"My wife is used to me being laid up and she wasn't best pleased this time.

"I was just about to take two weeks' leave with her and the children.

"But she has been great. She knows I love the job.

"These things happen. You learn to just grin and bear them."

His latest injury was sustained on Monday night as he and his policewoman partner attempted to carry out a drugs search on a Ford Fiesta in Upper Shoreham Road at the junction with Oxen Avenue, Shoreham.

It was a mile from where PC Jeff Tooley was mown down and killed by a car in Brighton Road, Shoreham, in 1999.

A campaign by The Argus led to the Government increasing sentences for drivers who kill.

A third PC was knocked over earlier this month by a suspected joyrider in Wick, Littlehampton.

PC Mark Brown suffered concussion and a dislocated shoulder.

PC Misrahi, nursing cuts and bruises on his arms and legs, said: "It won't put me off. I'll be back as soon as I'm able."

One regret is that he will miss Brighton and Hove Albion games. He said: "It'll be a while before I'm able to queue for tickets."

PC Misrahi's boss, Chief Inspector Sharon Rowe, said: "I am thankful his injuries were not life-threatening, although they were serious enough. He is one of our best officers."

A 20-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of offences including causing grievous bodily harm, dangerous driving and failing to stop at the scene of an accident.

He has been freed on bail pending further inquiries.