A hero dad has spoken of the dramatic moment he risked his own life to save that of a driver who had fallen seriously ill at the wheel in the outside lane of the busy M62.
John Barlow thought the other driver was dead when he looked in to the car heading slowly along the overtaking lane of the M62 near Leeds on Saturday. He got his Hyundai in front of the Audi, then took his foot off the accelerator and eased the car behind to a halt, before getting out to help the man, who was barely breathing.
John, 59, said it was "probably one of the most horrific things" he has ever seen. He said: "He looked dead at the wheel.
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“I could see his lips were blue and he had blood trickling down his face. His head was tilting forward.
“I thought ‘Oh my God, I’ve got to stop him’. I matched his speed then eased my way in front of him and then slowly took my foot off the accelerator. It might seem a bit nuts to do this, but you do daft things when you don't have time to think."
John, who is a martial arts instructor, then got out of his car to help the man who looked like he was not breathing. He was helped by a tradesman with a hammer to get access to the stricken middle-aged driver, and then tilted his head back to free his airway. The brave man said: "Fortunately we'd had a refresher first aid course at the gym recently and I was frantically trying to remember.
"I tilted his head slowly backwards opening his airways. He took a deep gasp and seemed to start breathing again. Even though he was still out for the count, I kept talking to him as the course says and he seemed to get some colour back."
Others then stopped to help, including a doctor on the other carriageway of the M62 who travelled to the next junction, turned round then battled through the backed-up traffic to get to work with a defibrillator. Other drivers stopped at the scene, bringing the four-lane carriageway to a halt, and a physio and an off-duty female police officer took over the first aid until paramedics arrived.
John said: "Everyone was amazing, it was a real team effort. They got the man on the floor, then the doctor jumped in as well. Just seeing all the other people working together to save someone's life is a brilliant thing, especially when teamwork works. Things like this certainly helps keep peoples faith that the majority of people are decent folks."
Julie Dolittle Howard said: "What an amazing thing he did. We need more people like him thank you so much John for caring on behalf of all lost and found. John you need a medal."
Edmund Draper-Smith added: "Top marks mate courageous thing to do for real." And Jane Whitehead said: "Oh wow, a hero. What a wonderful thing you did."
On Sunday (September 4), Mr Barlow received a call from West Yorkshire Police thanking him and he was told the driver had suffered a seizure but was well enough to go home. Mr Barlow’s car was not badly damaged in the impact and he was able to continue the journey to Pontefract to get Joey his kitten.
John now hopes other people will take up a first aid course in case of such an emergency in the future.
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