Boy saves grandma after medical episode while she's driving
A boy has been hailed a hero for saving his grandmother after she began to lose consciousness while driving.
Kathie and her grandson Ryan, 10, were heading north on State Highway 1 between Meremere and Mercer, south of Auckland, on Tuesday.
But just before 10.30am, the grandmother began to have a medical episode while driving, Counties Manukau Police said.
“Ryan, who was in the front seat, had noticed his nana slipping into a semi-conscious state,” police said.
“He soon swung into action and stepped over the centre console to step on the brake.”
Ryan managed to slow the car down but he couldn’t get his grandma’s foot off the accelerator.
The boy waved for help but the car began drifting closer to the crash barrier and the Waikato River.
Somehow, he managed to get the car to a walking pace “and jumped clear of the vehicle”.
“A passing truck driver saw Ryan’s waves for help and had stopped his truck,” police said.
“He ran to the vehicle (still moving at a walking pace) and managed to bring it to a standstill.”
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Paramedics arrived and transported the grandmother to hospital.
However, by this point the truck driver had left.
Ryan has been praised by police for his “heroic” efforts but the pair want to find the truck driver who helped them.
Kathie has since been released from hospital and is recovering well.
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