Two Canterbury teenagers are being hailed as heroes after they pulled an unconscious driver from a submerged ute in Lincoln last night.
The Toyota Hilux was travelling south on River Rd between Lincoln and Greenpark when it veered off the road and crashed into the Halswell River at about 5.40pm.
Liam Robinson and Angus Bailey, both 14, were close by and heard the accident.
Senior Constable Jim Manning said the pair biked immediately to the scene where they found the vehicle in the river, with the car partly submerged.
"They jumped in and found the driver unconscious and slumped forward in the driver's seat, with his head under water," Mr Manning said.
"The two of them have managed to free the driver, open the cab door and pull him out, and pull him up on to the bank. They also checked the cab in case there was anybody else trapped inside."
Manning said the boys showed "incredible presence of mind" and there was no doubt their actions helped to save the driver's life.
The driver was taken to Christchurch Hospital with concussion and moderate injuries, and his condition today was described as comfortable, police said.
Police are investigating the crash.
- Herald Online
