A teenage girl’s quick-thinking has saved the lives of her peers after the driver of their bus suffered a heart attack on the Gold Coast.
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The 15-year-old Aquinas College student acted fast by taking the wheel of the bus on a busy road on the Gold Coast when the driver became unconscious on Monday afternoon.
The driver grabbed his chest and became unresponsive, witnesses told The Gold Coast Bulletin, before the girl who was sitting in the front seat at the time reached over and steered the bus into traffic lights to avoid other vehicles on the road.
It was brought to a stop on a median strip on Southport Nerang Rd in Ashmore, near Olsen Ave, about 3.20pm.
A teenage girl has been hailed for her bravery after saving the lives of her schoolmates when their bus driver suffered a heart attack. Picture: Nine
All 25 students onboard the bus escaped without serious injury, while the 70-year-old driver, who has been a long-time employee of the school, was taken to Gold Coast University Hospital in a serious condition.
Queensland Ambulance Service senior operations supervisor John Nolan praised the actions of the school student.
“She removed his foot from the accelerator and his hands from the steering wheel and she kept the bus straight as it slowed down,” he said, according to the Bulletin.
“She has brought it to a safe stop on what is a very busy road. And they had just passed a very busy intersection, so it could have been a bad situation.
“It was a very brave and very courageous thing for her to do and she has saved all her fellow school mates from any harm.”
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He added she was a “little bit flustered” after the incident while other students “were a little emotional”.
Marcus Richardson, principal of Aquinas College in Ashmore, sent a letter to parents after the incident as he assured the safety of the students.
“This afternoon an Aquinas College school bus containing students from the College was involved in an accident outside our grounds. Fortunately, no one was hurt, and all students safely returned to the College,” he said.
“As a College, our primary concern remains the safety, wellbeing, and support of students.
“I would like to commend the actions of the students and staff involved today to ensure that all members of our school community remained safe.”
The school will also make counselling support available for any students affected or distressed by the incident.