Paul Carruthers nominated for Pride of Australia Medal in for risking his life to save South Rd crash victim
A LOUD bang turned Paul Carruthers’ average day into one he would never forget.
A LOUD bang turned Paul Carruthers’ average day into one he would never forget.
He ran from his office on South Rd, St Marys, to find an elderly man trapped inside a mangled Nissan Pathfinderfour-wheel drive, which had crashed on to the footpath and ripped up a gas main.
Ray Hillier was hurt and confused and still had his foot on the accelerator.
“The engine was screaming, the tyres were spinning, there was smoke pouring from the car,” Mr Carruthers, of South Plympton, said.
“I was yelling (at him) to turn the car off.”
Smelling gas, Mr Carruthers knew he had to act quickly otherwise “we were all going to blow to smithereens”.
He tried to rip the keys from the ignition but could not reach.
The driver’s door was wedged against a Stobie pole so Mr Carruthers climbed over the bonnet to drag Mr Hillier through the passenger door.
“I said, ‘Look mate, sorry about this, but I have to drag you out’.”
He called for an onlooker to help him carry Mr Hillier, who had cuts to his head, to safety, then ran back into traffic to direct motorists away from the leaking gas main until police arrived.
Mr Carruthers, 36, has been nominated for a Pride of Australia Medal in the Outstanding Bravery category for risking his life to save others on March 31.
He said it was not the smartest move but he was “glad I did it”.
“All I could see was him trying to keep (driving), and the blank look on his face and the innocence of not knowing what was going on,” Mr Carruthers said.
His brother, David, who works with him at Tonsley Crash Repairs, nominated him for the award.
“I just thought what he did was spur-of-the-moment crazy,” he said.
“He was across the other side like a rocket, we didn’t even think.
“It would be nice to get some kind of acknowledgment for it.”
The gas main has since been moved closer to Tonsley Hotel, away from the road.