A brave motorist saved the life of a man trapped in a burning truck after it flipped on the M74.
Hero Lee Metcalf says he was in the right place at the right time on Monday and didn’t think twice about rescuing the fellow lorry driver.
The 46-year-old stopped instantly when he saw the lorry skidding on the motorway, before running across its lanes to the driver’s rescue.
The vehicle was engulfed in flames as it fell with force on the Lanarkshire road in Abington, just past the service station on the M74.
Lee pulled the man out of the passenger window and took him to safety before carrying on with his work.
Lee told the Advertiser: “I was on my way delivering a pump and saw at the other side of the motorway a truck coming straight.
“Next thing it’s skidded across the road and caught fire.
“I slammed my brakes on at the hard shoulder, ran across the lanes, over the central reservation, got to the driver who was stuck and the truck was on fire.
“I managed to get him out of the passenger side window and took him away to safety.”
Many have gotten in touch with Lee since the incident on Monday, March 22 to praise his heroics.
The humble driver says it was instinct and the right thing to do.
“I wasn’t scared at all”, Lee explained. “The first thing in my mind was get the driver out, make sure he’s ok and that’s all I did, it was just instinct to do it.
“In my eyes it was the normal thing to do, I was just in the right place at the right time and that’s how I see it.
“As he was sliding across the road on his side, underneath the truck was catching fire, and when it stopped it got worse, by that time I was already out trying to get him out.
“I just did what I did, other people stopped and the emergency services came, I made sure he was safe and went back to work.
“I wanted to get the driver out, that was all that was on my mind, nothing about my self preservation, just get him out quick, acting on impulse basically.
“If that was me in that situation, I’d pray someone was there to help me.”
The lorry appeared to have a tyre blow out causing it to skid and eventually flip with force before catching fire.
Lee currently works for SLD Pumps and Power and delivers all over Scotland.
A trucker page, Stuck In A Truck TDF has nominated Lee for a Pride of Britain award for ‘outstanding bravery’ after his heroic actions.
Lee added: “I’ve been totally overwhelmed by all the kind words I’ve received. It’s been amazing. Again, I don’t see myself as a hero, just someone doing the right thing.”
