Police Seek Unknown Hero From Coast Road Rescue

Posted by Media release on 02/11/2011

Eastern Waikato Police are seeking the public's help in locating a car driver who they believe played a significant part in saving a child's life after a car ended up upside down in the ocean near Thames.

Sergeant Tony Mumford of the Thames Police said emergency services were called to the crash on the Thames Coast Rd about 11.45am yesterday.

"It appears a woman has lost control of her car which left the road and ended up upside down in the sea while the tide was in.

"A truck driver travelling in the opposite direction saw the crash and he and another mystery motorist, believed to be a man, went into the water and released a two-year-old child out of its car seat."

Mr Mumford said at this point Police believe the woman may have been able to escape the car herself though this is yet to be confirmed.

"We've got the details of the truck driver and will be interviewing him but the second driver had left the scene by the time we arrived and we would very much like to be able to identify who this person is so we can acknowledge both drivers' selfless actions in an appropriate manner.