Driver’s life-saving act when car caught fire on Bruce Highway on Sunshine Coast
Mark Couch can be heard breathing heavily in footage he captured of his car burning on the Bruce Hwy.
Moments earlier, he faced death.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Sunshine Coast man tells of escape from burning car.
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The Sunshine Coast local was driving back from Toowoomba on the highway about 2am on Monday when his view became hazy.
“I thought I was driving through heavy fog,” Couch told 7NEWS.
“But it was smoke coming up through the engine bay.”
He pulled over on the side of the highway and tried to get out of the car, but couldn’t.
“I tried to get out of the vehicle, but the doors were jammed,” he said.
He believes the door jam was caused by the fire affecting the central locking system.
Then Couch performed an act that saved his life, seconds before the car was completely engulfed in flames.
“I managed to kick the driver’s side window open and climbed out,” he said.
“It was really terrifying. I’m just glad adrenaline kicked in.”
His footage shows the flaming car, while photos of the aftermath reveal the melted interior.
He admits he was “extremely lucky and fortunate” to avoid death.
Couch was taken to hospital but has made a full physical recovery.
