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Hero lorry driver prevents serious crash on M5

A hero lorry driver helped to steer a car to safety on the M5 and prevent a serious crash after its driver fell ill behind the wheel.

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The driver spotted a car swerving on the southbound carriageway near West Bromwich yesterday afternoon.

He was able to get in front of it then and with the help of a Highways Agency patrol car, managed to slow him down and eventually stop - preventing a possible fatal smash.

West Midlands Ambulance Service was called shortly after 5.30pm to attend at junction one.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said: "The car driver, a man in his 60s, had had a medical episode at the wheel for which he was treated at the scene and then taken to Sandwell Hospital.

"However, it was the opinion of all the emergency services at the scene that, had it not been for the actions of the lorry driver in forcing the car to stop, this could have been much more serious."

First on scene was an off-duty nurse with the West Midlands CARE Team who came across the incident and stopped to help.

Two rapid response vehicles were assigned to the case; one driven by a paramedic, the other by a paramedic area support officer. An ambulance was also sent to the scene.

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