Quick-thinking Mark Thompson Transport driver Kirk Mount helped save the life of a stricken motorist on the M6toll by positioning his truck to shield the man from oncoming traffic, then dragging him from his crashed car and giving him CPR.
Kirk, 35, has been hailed a hero for his prompt actions as he travelled on the southbound carriageway of the M6toll near Burntwood in Staffordshire.
Married father-of-two and former soldier Kirk was driving a fully-laden 44-tonne truck when the drama unfolded on the morning of Monday, January 31.
A Range Rover was stationary in the middle lane ahead of Kirk, who thought the vehicle had broken down.
He manoeuvred his truck near to the stationary car and gestured to the motorist to move to the hard shoulder.
Suddenly the vehicle moved off, then crashed into the central reservation and rolled backwards, before coming to a halt.
Kirk, who served in the Royal Artillery for seven years, positioned his lorry across all three lanes to slow down oncoming traffic, and jumped from his cab to investigate.
A couple in another car also stopped and the trio saw the Range Rover driver appeared to be suffering a medical episode.
The doors were locked, so Kirk and the others smashed a window and then managed to open the driver’s side.
Kirk found the man was unresponsive – he had no pulse and was not breathing – so he pulled him from the vehicle, lay him on the ground and started CPR.
Luckily a medical professional saw what was going on and had a defibrillator with him, which he used to assist in the life-saving drama.
By the time the ambulance arrived, the man had a pulse and was breathing again.
He is understood to have suffered a heart attack and is expected to make a full recovery.
Kirk said: “It was a combined effort by several of us to save this man’s life. It’s really nice to hear he is recovering. It could have had such a different, tragic outcome.
“My military training kicked in when I saw what was happening. My first thought was to position my lorry to protect the driver and others approaching, to prevent anyone hitting his vehicle and causing further incidents. His car was in a very dangerous position.
“I was a bit shaken by it all, but glad to be able to help.”
Mark Thompson was full of praise for Kirk’s actions.
“What Kirk did was amazing,” said Mark.
“We had a call from the M6toll team explaining they wanted to thank him too, as he was their hero.
“We’re very proud of Kirk. It was a distressing and unpleasant incident, but Kirk kept his cool and used his military training to help ensure a happy outcome. We wish the motorist involved all the best.”
James Hodson, M6toll Chief Operating Officer, said: “First of all, we would like to pass on our thoughts and best wishes to the driver involved in the medical emergency on the M6toll road. The M6toll team would also like to praise the heroic actions of Kirk Mount, the Mark Thompson Transport HGV driver, who helped him at the scene.
“Our M6toll operations team were alerted to what was taking place and, working in coordination with the emergency services, the M6toll incident support unit was dispatched to the scene to provide assistance.
“As a result of the swift actions of all involved, the necessary medical assistance was provided, and the affected driver was taken to hospital to receive further treatment.
“We again give thanks to everyone involved, including our operations team, in their efforts on the day and we wish the driver involved in the medical emergency a full recovery.”
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