Learner lorry driver Edward McLean was today recovering from a nightmare drive that saved the life of his instructor.

Learning to drive can be nerve-wracking enough, but when instructor Malcolm McIntyre keeled over with a suspected heart attack quick-thinking Edward put his brain into gear.

The 40-year-old Kent man, a stranger to Basildon, headed into town for help as his stricken instructor slipped in and out of consciousness.

He eventually found Basildon police station - dropping off Malcolm before going on to pass his HGV test later that day.

Mr McIntyre, 28, of Grays, was today recovering at home and is set to undergo more tests.

Although hailed a hero, Edward shrugged off his life-saving actions.

He said: "I'm not a hero, I just did what was right in the circumstances.

"I hope someone else would do the same for me."

Edward was preparing for his HGV test with Basildon-based Sterling Training, of Howard Chase, when the drama unfolded.

He said: "He was looking grey and started slipping out of consciousness. He asked me to take him to hospital.

"I don't know Basildon so I didn't know where the hospital was.

"When I saw the sign for the police station I thought there must be a god after all."

Police immediately called an ambulance and Mr McIntyre was rushed to hospital for treatment.

Edward eventually went on to pass his HGV test at Purfleet with Sterling instructor Danny Allso.

He said: "I was very shaken. I had been with him for three or four days so he was like a friend and I thought he was going to die.

"I was very worried for him but the instructor calmed me down."

Sterling director Peter Wright thanked police for their help.

He said: "People are too quick to run the police down. They phoned us and the hospital up to make sure Malcolm was OK.

"They even told us not to worry about the parking ticket from when the lorry was left outside the police station."

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