The passenger leapt into action when the driver of the airport transfer bus was taken ill at the wheel of his vehicle yesterday (Tuesday September 1).

The driver, who was ferrying passengers between the airport's North Terminal and a local hotel, was taken ill shortly before 4am.

The Mercedes single decker bus was about to join the A23 from a northbound slip road near the Airport Way Roundabout West when the quick-witted passenger, a man from Bedford, spotted that the driver had collapsed at the wheel. He took the wheel of the vehicle and steered it into a crash barrier to prevent it going on to the A23.

No-one on board the bus was injured and only minor damage was caused to the vehicle and the barrier.

The driver, a 48-year-old man from Horley, was taken to the New East Surrey Hospital at Redhill and was released later the same day.

Were you on the bus? Were you the quick thinking passenger? Contact us.

Phone the newsroom: 01293 845055
Email: kirk.ward@sussexnewspapers.co.uk