Aquinas College student hailed a hero after steering school bus to safety following driver’s heart attack

A teenage girl has been credited with saving the lives of her schoolmates after she took the wheel of their bus on a busy Gold Coast road when the driver suffered a heart attack.

A teenager has been hailed a hero after taking control of the bus. Picture: Nine Gold Coast News.

A teenage girl has been credited with saving the lives of her schoolmates after she took the wheel of their bus on a busy Gold Coast road when the driver suffered a heart attack.

The hero teen has been identified as 15-year-old Emma Kuveya, a student at Aquinas College.

The college bus crashed into a median strip on the Southport Nerang Rd in Ashmore, near the junction with Olsen Ave, shortly after 3.20pm.

Witnesses on the bus said the driver cried out and grabbed his chest before becoming unresponsive.

The female student who was sitting in the front seat reached across and steered the bus into traffic lights, avoiding other traffic.

A set of traffic lights was destroyed in the incident. Picture: Nine Gold Coast News.

Queensland Ambulance Service senior operations supervisor John Nolan hailed the 15-year-old girl a hero and said her “brave and courageous” actions saved the 25 students on board from serious harm.

“He lost consciousness for a period of time and a 15-year-old girl came to his aid,” he said.

“She removed his foot from the accelerator and his hands from the steering wheel and she kept the bus straight as it slowed down.

“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.”

QAS Senior Operations Supervisor John Nolan.

Mr Nolan said the driver, a 70-year-old man, was taken to Gold Coast University Hospital in a serious condition. On Tuesday, the driver remained in hospital in a stable condition.

He described the school bus as a “full-sized passenger bus”.

”I did say ‘well done’ to her. She was a little bit flustered and some of the other students were a little emotional,” Mr Nolan said.

“Some teachers arrived soon after and walked the students back to school but all those students are safe because of her actions and she should be very proud.”

A tow truck removes the bus from the scene of the accident. Picture: Nine Gold Coast News.

The actions of the girl were also praised by the parents of other students who were on board the bus.

“My son was on the bus and so so lucky that she (the student) moved his foot off the accelerator and took over steering,” a parent wrote on social media.

“Such a busy intersection. It could have been a lot worse.”

Aquinas College principal Marcus Richardson: “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.” Picture: Richard Gosling.

In a letter to parents Aquinas College principal Marcus Richardson praised the action of students and staff who were at the scene.

“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.

The College will follow up with the parents of the students involved to ensure they are aware of the circumstances and the support being offered at the College.

“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 praise continued on Tuesday, from both Mr Richardson and classmates of the 15-year-old year 10 girl.

“Us students on the bus, we didn’t know what was happening, and everyone was screaming,” student Bennett Rogers told 9 News.

“She (Emma) had to steer the bus so that we didn’t crash into a building.”

Year 12 student Daniel Knight also stepped in to hit the brakes of the bus.

“We were only going like five kays, 10 kays (km/h) so I was like, I better just stop the bus before it gets any worse,” he said.

“She opened the door up, she was calming everyone down.”

Mr Richardson said the efforts of all students involved were “really courageous”.

“They showed a great presence of mind for a young person to intervene and support someone in need,” he said, speaking on ABC Gold Coast.

“Our (school) values are very much around compassion, courage … the consistent message to our students is to look out for others. Her very quick and decisive actions certainly represent that.

“I’m proud of her and I’m proud of all the students really, the way they conducted themselves. It’s a very hectic intersection (but) all students are safe.”

Mr Richardson said counselling support would be made available to any students who had been distressed by the incident.

The traffic lights that were hit by the bus. Picture: Nine Gold Coast News.

The actions of the student drew praise from dozens of people on social media.

“She deserves a bravery medal, so many people could have been injured,” one person said.

“Amazing work from the young lady who saved them all,” another person commented. “Totally Australian of the year commendable.”

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