A truck driver has been labelled a “hero” after stopping traffic on a major motorway to save a man who was hanging off a bridge.
Dan Shillito was driving underneath a bridge on the M1 and by the J29 carriageway, near Chesterfield, about 7pm on Saturday when he saw the man in the horrifying situation.
A clip shared to millions on social media showed the driver standing on top of the lorry while police officers rushed to help.
Mr Shillito had noticed the man and asked a police officer for permission to park the lorry under the bridge.
The driver got out of his lorry and climbed on top before holding the man’s weight and support him on his shoulders.
After helping the man come down from the bridge, Mr Shillito waited until help arrived.
It is understood the man survived.
Mr Shillito playing a huge role with his heroic actions.
Police assisting Dan Shillito during the incident
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The married dad of two has been praised as a hero, but he told the Daily Mail he did “what anyone else would do”.
“I just shouted out to the traffic officer to ask if he wanted me to pull my truck underneath the bridge to stop the man from falling on the ground,” he said.
“I was quite focused on just doing what I needed to do.
“I wasn’t panicking, I just saw what I could do to help, and did it all in the moment.
“It was only afterwards once everything had been done and I drove away that it sort of hit me.”
Mr Shillito said he then “felt this adrenaline”.
Derbyshire Police confimed no one had been hurt.
“We received a call concerning the welfare of a man on a bridge close to junction 29 of the M1 at about 6.30pm on Saturday 6 September,” the police said.
“Officers were deployed to the scene and the man was led to safety with the help of a member of the public.
“No one was injured and the man was taken to hospital to be checked over.”
Police said a stretch of the motorway was closed while the emergency services responded to the incident.
It was later reopened once police cleared the scene.
For emotional support, you can call the Samaritans 24-hour helpline on 116 123, email [email protected], visit a Samaritans branch in person or go to the Samaritans website.