Gold Coast truckie Paul Hetaraka hailed as a hero for selfless act moments before he died in a horror motorway crash
By Zak Wheeler For Daily Mail Australia[1]
Published: 04:52, 9 December 2023 | Updated: 04:52, 9 December 2023
A truckie has been hailed as a hero after using the final moments of his life to make sure that nobody else was hurt when his vehicle crashed on a busy highway.
Father-of-two Paul Hetaraka, 66, died after his truck crashed into the barriers on the Pacific Motorway at Gaven, north of the Gold Coast, at 6am on Thursday. [2]
Paramedics believe that he may have been suffering a medical episode at the time of the crash but despite this he was still able to limit the impact of his crash.
Mr Hetaraka managed to steer off of the highway and into a safe area on the side of the road to ensure that nobody else was injured by the out-of-control truck.
Social media users were quick to heap praise on the late trucker who went out a hero.
Father-of-two Paul Hetaraka, 66, died behind the wheel of his truck after suffering a suspected health episode at 6am on Thursday
Tributes have flooded in for the ‘bloody legend’ who spent his final moments steering his truck off the road to make sure that nobody else was hurt in the ensuing crash
Johnna-Lee Toi, who was raised by Mr Hetaraka, told the Gold Coast Bulletin [4]that she was in shock about his death.
‘[I was] shocked and numb when I heard the news about the crash, I broke down, it was not a good feeling at all,’ she said.
‘He was always there for me and for all of us. He was loved by all people who knew him.’
Others who did not even know Mr Hetaraka commended his efforts and the fact that he thought about others on the road despite his grave situation.
‘RIP you died a hero saving all those people from being in an accident you a true bloody legend fly high,’ one person wrote.
‘You’re a legend and hero mate, in your final moments you put others ahead of yourself. Your family and other families will forever remember you as a selfless beautiful person, thank you,” another added.
Friend Bill Hartland joined in on the praise and said that the world had lost Mr Hetaraka too soon.
‘RIP Paul Hetaraka I’m going to miss you mate, a true gentleman and a great man.
Sad, taken to soon,’ Mr Hartland said.
Police are appealing to anyone who witnessed the crash, or who may have dash-cam footage, to contact them.
Investigations into the tragic incident are ongoing.
References
- ^ Zak Wheeler For Daily Mail Australia (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ Gold Coast (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ Truckie escapes certain death (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ the Gold Coast Bulletin (www.goldcoastbulletin.com.au)
- ^ Facebook (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ Gold Coast (www.dailymail.co.uk)