Passenger saves day

A PASSENGER has been hailed a “hero” for dramatically steering a car across three lanes of the Pacific Motorway when the driver suffered a cardiac arrest at Oxenford on Tuesday night.

The woman, aged in her 50s, collapsed behind the wheel at 7.25pm but the passenger went into immediate action, leaning his foot over to apply the brakes and grabbing the steering wheel so he could safely bring the vehicle to a stop on the side of the M1.

The passenger began CPR on the driver and was assisted by a mystery ute driver, with direction from a Queensland Ambulance Service call-taker until paramedics arrived.

Police have not identified the driver or passenger.

Queensland Ambulance Service acting senior operations supervisor Bill Houghton said the passenger was a “hero” for taking control of the car, which had been travelling about 110km/h.

“He has done an amazing job and has not only saved the life of the driver, but has prevented a potentially deadly pile-up on the M1,” said Mr Houghton.

Gold Coast Health said the woman was in a stable condition yesterday.