A FORGIVING wife told yesterday how her husband accidentally ran her over while she was "answering the call of nature" in the Territory Outback.

Pat MacDonald told the Northern Territory News: "We had just pulled up for morning tea."

"I squatted down in front of the car for a call of nature and he drove right over the top of me."

Mrs MacDonald, a 63-year-old retired nurse, was enjoying a camping trip at Gregory National Park with her husband Peter, 67.

While she can laugh now, Mrs Anderson suffered extensive head injuries, including having the right side of her scalp torn off. The couple used a satellite phone to alert medical staff based at Timber Creek, about 50km away.

Mrs Anderson was treated at Timber Creek Medical Centre before being flown to Royal Darwin Hospital, where she had emergency surgery.

After a six-day stay in hospital following the August 4 accident, and time spent recuperating at a friend's home in Gunn, Palmerston, Mrs Anderson said she learned a valuable lesson about Outback dunny etiquette.

"I now know not to get out of a car and squat right in front of it," she added with a bit of a chuckle.

Mrs Anderson also thanked the Territory's medical and emergency services.

"I just want to say thank you to all the people who helped us," she said.

"You have to give credit where credit is due and this is one of those times," Mrs Anderson said.

The Queensland couple will remain in Darwin until Mrs Anderson is well enough to travel home.

"I have surgery again next week and then I'll go home to recuperate," she said.