Police praise for crash-rescue driver

CRASH-RESCUE hero Jonathan Hawkins

An Oldham man has been praised by emergency services after his quick-thinking actions helped to save the lives of a stranded couple.

Jonathan Hawkins was on the M60 near junction 15 when he saw a car crashed into the barrier with smoke billowing out.

He pulled over to found a man collapsed at the wheel and his wife - who had been following in another vehicle - at the roadside in a panic.

Jonathan checked the man’s pulse, which was weak.

“I began talking to him really loudly, to try and bring him round,” Jonathan explained.

“The car was really smashed up and full of smoke so when I’d checked his physical state I moved him to the side of the road. I turned the engine off then rang the emergency services.

“His wife had seen it all and was really upset. managed to calm her down.

“I’d asked the man all about his medical history so when the ambulance and police arrived I was able to tell them everything.”

The couple were taken to hospital after the incident late on Saturday.

West Yorkshire police later showered praise on Jonathan for his actions.

He said: “They asked if I was a paramedic or police officer because I’d known what to do. I’m trained in first aid but that’s as far as it goes!”

Jonathan has since learned the man is now stable in hospital.

Police believe he blacked out while driving.

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