Aquinas College student brings crowded bus to safety after driver falls unconscious at the wheel

A teenager was hailed as a hero after she pulled a school bus to safety while the driver was suspected of suffering a heart attack at the wheel.

The bus was carrying students from Aquinas College Southport when it struck a central reservation and came to a stop near the intersection of Southport Nerang Road and Olsen Avenue in Southport on the Gold Coast on Monday afternoon.

Horrified teenagers on the bus reported that the 70-year-old driver screamed and clutched his chest before becoming unresponsive.

Emergency workers praised the 15-year-old girl’s “brave and courageous” behavior in the moments following the driver’s medical incident.

The girl brought the bus to a safe stop on the busy road after crossing a busy intersection.

“She took his foot off the accelerator and his hands off the steering wheel and held the bus straight as it slowed,” Queensland Ambulance Service operations manager John Nolan said.

“(The driver) lost consciousness for a while and a 15-year-old girl came to his aid.”

There were about 25 students on the bus at the time. No injuries were reported.

He said the girl was “a little nervous” and some of the students on the bus became quite emotional after the incident.

“It was a very brave and courageous act on her part and she saved all her classmates from harm,” Mr Nolan added.

“Some teachers came shortly afterwards and brought the students back to school, but thanks to her intervention, all the students are safe and she can be very proud.”

The school praised the actions of the students and staff involved.

“This afternoon, an Aquinas College school bus carrying college students was involved in an accident off our grounds,” said Marcus Richardson, principal of Aquinas College, in a statement.

“Fortunately, no one was injured and all students returned safely to college.”

“I would like to commend the actions of the students and staff involved today who ensured that all members of our school community remained safe.

“As a college, the safety, well-being and support of students remain our primary concerns.”

Students disturbed by the incident will be offered counseling.

The bus driver was taken to Gold Coast University Hospital in serious condition.

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