Man who helped save driver from burning car on Ontario highway said rescue happened in 'the nick of time'
One of the five men who heroically jumped in to save a man from a burning vehicle on an Ontario highway said the rescue happened "literally the nick of time" before the car exploded in flames.
Ben Sykes told CTV News Toronto that he and his wife were driving on the Queen Elizabeth Highway (QEW) in Mississauga on Monday when they saw a moving vehicle on fire that eventually crashed into a ditch near the Cawthra off-ramp.
"I saw somebody with a car jack in their hand, heading towards the vehicle quickly and then started to hit the window. And so I guess at that minute, I sort of felt like 'Well, I got to help here.' And so I jumped out of the car and, you know, just did what I could to try and help at the moment," he said Thursday afternoon.
A video of the incident, tweeted by the OPP Wednesday evening, shows smoke billowing from the stopped vehicle as five men attempted to rescue the driver.
- Download our app to get local alerts to your device
- Get the latest local updates right to your inbox
The OPP says the driver, a 36-year-old man from Toronto, experienced a medical episode during the incident.
The five men then jumped into action to help free the unconscious man from the rapidly burning vehicle.
Sykes, who was wearing a white shirt in the video, is seen kicking and elbowing the car window to try and free the man.
Ben Sykes is seen in the white shirt. (Supplied)
"Thankfully there was a guy in a dump truck, whoever that was, he threw a hammer out the window and I realized, okay, we gotta grab this thing," Sykes said.
"And so I grabbed the hammer and smashed that window and we were able to get it open and just thankful that the timing worked out the way it did, it was literally the nick of time."
The men then pulled the driver out of the vehicle to safety.
Sykes says the rescue happened in a span of about 30 seconds, before the vehicle burst into flames.
The OPP says the driver sustained no injuries and is alive today because of the men's "heroic efforts."
Ben Sykes, left, and Fabricio Lauar Banon, right, were both involved in the rescue on Monday. (CTV News Toronto)
Sykes says he spoke to the driver yesterday.
“He obviously is thankful. I'm sure it's all setting in for him. It's emotional. It's been an emotional roller coaster for me this week. I'm sure it's been the same thing for him. So, thankfully he's in good shape, and we all walked away,” he said.
Sykes added that he went into "fight or flight" mode and just wanted to help a person in need.
"I think there’s a lot of people out there that would do the same thing if they got into that situation. And all we can do is try and help other people and the world’s a good place despite all the stuff that’s going on right now."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6977485.1721935249!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
LIVE UPDATES Rain reduces wildfire activity, aids firefighters: Jasper park officials
Jasper National Park officials said Thursday night that rain over the day resulted in "minimal fire behaviour and spread."
Canadian Olympic Committee removes women's soccer team's head coach over drone scandal
The Canadian Olympic Committee has removed women's national soccer team head coach Bev Priestman over a drone scandal, according to a press release from the organization.
Yukon woman narrowly escapes bear attack, credits hair clip
A woman in Yukon believes her hair clip helped save her during a bear attack.
Prince William's 2023 salary revealed in new report
Newly released financial reports show that William, the Prince of Wales, drew a salary of $42.1 million last fiscal year, his first since inheriting the vast and lucrative Duchy of Cornwall.
'I was just shocked': Jasper lodge owner on seeing property destroyed by wildfire
On Wednesday night, the owner of Maligne Lodge in Jasper, Alta., was shocked to receive a photo of her business engulfed in flames.
Mary-Ellen Turpel-Lafond likely has Indigenous DNA: report
The Law Society of British Columbia says a DNA test shows a former judge and Order of Canada recipient accused of falsely claiming to be Cree "most likely" has Indigenous heritage.
U.S. authorities have arrested 'El Mayo' Zambada, a historic leader of Mexico's Sinaloa cartel
Ismael 'El Mayo' Zambada, a historic leader of Mexico's Sinaloa cartel, and Joaquin Guzman Lopez, a son of another infamous cartel leader, were arrested by U.S. authorities in Texas on Thursday, the U.S. Justice Department said.
Harris pushes Netanyahu to ease suffering in Gaza: 'I will not be silent'
U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris pressured Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday to help reach a Gaza ceasefire deal that would ease the suffering of Palestinian civilians, striking a tougher tone than President Joe Biden.
'She led it the whole way': 18-year-old B.C. woman leads hikers to safety in Jasper National Park
As fire threatened people in Jasper National Park, Colleen Knull sprung into action.