Ben Sykes told CTV News Toronto that he and his wife were driving on the Queen Elizabeth Freeway (QEW) in Mississauga on Monday when they saw a moving vehicle on fire that ended up in a ditch near the Cawthra ramp.
“I saw somebody with a car jack in their hand, quickly heading toward the vehicle, and then I started banging on the window. And so I guess at that point, I was kind of like, ‘Well, I’ve got to help out here.’ And so I jumped out of the car and , you know, I was just doing what I could to try to help at this time,” he said Thursday afternoon.
A video of the incident, which was posted on Twitter on Wednesday afternoon, showed smoke billowing from the stalled vehicle as five men tried to rescue the driver.
OPP say the driver, a 36-year-old Toronto man, experienced a medical episode during the incident.
The five men then jumped into action to help free the unconscious man from the rapidly burning vehicle.
Sykes, who was wearing a white shirt in the video, can be seen kicking and elbowing the car window to try to free the man.
Ben Sykes is seen in the white shirt.  (Is provided)
“Luckily there was a guy in a dump truck, whoever he was, threw a hammer out the window and I was like, OK, we’ve got to grab this thing,” Sykes said.
“And so I grabbed the hammer and broke that window and we were able to open it and we’re thankful that the timing worked out the way it did, it was literally the time of year.”
The men then pulled the driver from the vehicle to safety.
Sykes says the rescue took place in about 30 seconds before the vehicle was engulfed in flames.
The OPP say the driver was not injured and is alive today because of the men’s “heroic efforts.”
Ben Sykes, left, and Fabricio Lauar Banon, right, were both involved in the rescue on Monday.  (CTV News Toronto)
Sykes says he talked to the driver yesterday.
“Obviously he’s grateful.  I’m sure everything works out for him.  It’s emotional.  It’s been an emotional roller coaster for me this week.  I’m sure it was the same for him.  So luckily he’s in good shape and we all left,” he said.
Sykes added that he went into “fight or flight” mode and just wanted to help a person in need.
“I think there are a lot of people out there who would do the same thing if they were put in this situation. And all we can do is try to help other people and the world is a good place despite all the things that are going on right now.” moment.”