SA truck driver Michael Sleep risked life to pull grandmother Cleo Bryant out of car fire

The hero truck driver who saved 70-year-old Cleo Bryant from fiery wreckage crash says he hopes to meet the woman whose life he saved.

Michael Sleep has been hailed as a hero by the family of a woman whom he rescued from a fiery crash on Wednesday night. Picture: 9 News

A South Australian truck driver who pulled an elderly woman from a fiery crash said “it might have been a much different story” had he arrived just 30 seconds later.

Michael Sleep told 9 News Adelaide that he had “no second thoughts, just instinct” when he spotted the aftermath of a two-car crash on Wednesday night and pulled his truck over on the Princes Highway.

Trapped in one of the cars was 70-year-old grandmother Cleo Bryant, and Mr Sleep risked his own life to pull her from the wreckage.

Michael Sleep told 9 News Adelaide that he had “no second thoughts, just instinct” when he waded into the fiery wreckage. Picture: 9 News

Seventy-year-old Cleo Bryant remains in hospital after surviving the crash. Picture: 9 News

“As I was running towards the car, there were flames coming out of the engine bay,” Mr Sleep said.

“It was pretty chaotic – I was talking to the triple-0 operator with the phone in one hand and trying to get the lady out of the vehicle.”

Firefighters on scene at the Princes Highway crash site. Picture: 9 News

After also helping the other driver out of their car, ambulance crews arrived and raced Ms Bryant to hospital.

Following the truck driver’s daring rescue, Ms Bryant’s grandson James took to Facebook writing “you are literally a hero to us all” and “if anyone knows who this man was, could you please send me an inbox”.

Mr Sleep said he had not been in touch with the family yet but looked forward to meeting them.

Ms Bryant remains in hospital with broken ribs and a cracked sternum.

Originally published as SA truck driver Michael Sleep risked life to pull grandmother Cleo Bryant out of car fire