Mystery hero in Thames coast rescue identified

The mystery Good Samaritan who assisted in the rescue of a young child trapped in an upside down, partially submerged, car off the Thames coast on Tuesday has been identified.

Sergeant Tony Mumford of the Thames Police said Police had been able to identify the mystery motorist as a self employed Waiomu man who had been travelling south when he saw the driver of a northbound Ford Laser lose control on the Thames Coast Rd and flip upside down into the water.

"Joining with a truck driver the man raced to the car, as they arrived the woman managed to get out of the car but her two-year-old child was still strapped into her car seat in the car.

"Unable to open the car door the men have used brute force to yank on the B pillar to distort the window enough to break it and get the girl out."

Rescuing the girl the truck driver assisted the mother to shore while the car driver carried the child to safety.

"We'll be looking at the most appropriate way to acknowledge the actions of both men," said Mr Mumford.

Thames Police had been inundated with people wanting to help identify the heroes or to just acknowledge what they had done.

"The community spirit hasn't ended there either. Following the crash the truck driver's day went a bit pear-shaped.

"He had given the soaked woman his jacket to keep warm and arriving ambulance staff then cut it off her to carry out an examination. He then continued on his route in his brand new truck but was involved in a minor fender bender."

On hearing of the truck driver's plight two local businesses got together to buy him some new clothing.

"That's what living in small communities is all about, generally in such situations most people want to help out and on hearing what happened to truck driver the good folks at Graeme Wright Transport and Trevor Marters Ltd wanted to help in some way.

ENDS

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