An elderly driver has been rescued from his car that had crashed into the Hawkesbury River and was rapidly taking on water by a brave 18-year-old at Pitt Town.
Third year apprentice carpenter Brad Johnston was driving on Pitt Town Road on his way home from work shortly before 5.30pm on Wednesday, June 27 when he noticed a car driving erratically a few vehicles ahead of his.
“I was on the way home from work coming from McGraths Hill and the car was swerving all over the road,” he said.
“As I got close to my house I was right behind it.
“I just had a gut feeling about it and decided not to go home, but to follow it.”
Mr Johnston continued following the car as it drove from Bathurst Street onto Punt Road, where the road becomes dirt and leads into the river.
“It went down the end of the road and I was expecting him to slow down but it just hit the water,” Mr Johnston said.
“It was like a movie.
“I rang triple zero straight away and said to the operator I needed to get the bloke out of the car. He told me not to, but the car had started sinking.”
In near complete darkness and with the temperature rapidly dropping, Mr Johnston waded into the water as far as he could, however the car had made it about one third of the way across the river and he had to swim to get to the vehicle.
“The river was freezing and the hardest part was it was pitch black,” he said. “I went out and all the doors were locked, I could see him [the driver] struggling inside.
“I went back and got a bar out of my ute but I couldn’t get leverage [to smash a window] because I was treading water.
“I was running on adrenaline. Because I couldn’t stand, I couldn’t get leverage and half the car was sinking, and half floating.
“When I was trying to get him out I could see him struggling and waving his arms. I told him to keep away from the glass.”
Mr Johnston eventually managed to get to the 76-year-old driver, and with the car rapidly taking on water he helped the man to the river bank.
“He was in shock,” Mr Johnston said. “I got him out of the water and he was able to tell me his name and his address.”
Police, Hawkesbury State Emergency Service (SES) and NSW Ambulance paramedics were then on the scene, and the driver was taken to Nepean Hospital for observation.
Police were full of praise for Mr Johnston’s quick thinking.
“We can thank the actions of a concerned driver who witnessed this vehicle driving erratically and decided to follow the vehicle as it drove along Punt Road due to those concerns,” Hawkesbury police said in a statement.
“Police will be taking steps to ensure the actions of the witness are recognised.”
The crash resulted from a medical issue and no charges were pending, a Hawkesbury police statement said.
A humble Mr Johnston does not see himself as a hero, and said he he was just glad the driver survived.
“I didn’t really think twice. If I didn’t go in the car would have sunk and he would have drowned,” he said. “I’m just glad it turned out the way it did.”
