A man was pulled from his car and given emergency care after crashing into Cairns shopping centre

A driver is in a ‘potentially life threatening’ condition after crashing into a Cairns shopping centre.

A car has crashed into the front of Cairns Central shopping centre on McLeod Street. Picture: Sam Davis.

A man has been pulled from his car and given CPR after he crashed into the Cairns Central Shopping Centre entrance on Mcleod Street.

The driver in his 60s remains in a potentially life threatening condition after suffering what is believed to be a medical emergency behind the wheel of his silver four-wheeled drive at 12.45pm on Thursday.

After hitting pot plants at the centre’s entrance Anthony Maddison and a woman who wished to remain anonymous immediately started giving first aid while he came ‘in and out’ of consciousness.

A man in his 60s has been transported to Cairns Hospital in a life threatening condition after losing control of his four wheel drive, and crashing the vehicle into pot plants at the front of Cairns Central shopping centre. No one else was injured in the crash. Picture: Brendan Radke

“I was waiting at the lights then the lights turned green. He was doing a U-turn there but he didn’t complete the U-turn he drove into pot plants,” Mr Maddison said.

“There was an Aboriginal girl walking across and I thought it was a targeted attack, but as he kept driving, because it was so slow you quickly realise it wasn't a targeted attack.

A man in his 60s has been transported to Cairns Hospital in a life threatening condition after losing control of his four wheel drive, and crashing the vehicle into pot plants at the front of Cairns Central shopping centre. No one else was injured in the crash. Picture: Brendan Radke

“That girl saw him through the windscreen and by that time she opened the door, I ran around the door and put on the handbrake and turned the car off.

“He was on the ground and that's when I tried to clear his airways and tried CPR.... he was was coming in and out and looked blueish.”

A man in his 60s has been transported to Cairns Hospital in a life threatening condition after losing control of his four wheel drive, and crashing the vehicle into pot plants at the front of Cairns Central shopping centre. No one else was injured in the crash. Picture: Brendan Radke

A Queensland Ambulance Service spokeswoman confirmed the man was transported to Cairns Hospital at 1.20pm with no other persons requiring care.

Another eyewitness who wished to be identified as Kurt saw the event unfold while sitting at the Grand Hotel’s outdoor eating area.

He said the driver virtually crawled through traffic before hitting the building.

“He was at the lights and then went straight through, he just kept going but slow, real slow,” he said.

“Like practically walking speed, I looked up and thought he better start turning and then he just hit that concrete.”

The main entranced reopened just before 2pm after the crashed car was towed.

Originally published as A man was pulled from his car and given emergency care after crashing into Cairns shopping centre