A FATHER and son who nearly died in a horrible motorway crash want to find and thank the good Samaritans who saved their lives.

Gary Fordham suddenly had a seizure while driving home along the M6 with his then-11-year-old son Hayden and their dog Buster at 2pm on New Year's Eve 2018.

He later found out that this was because of a previously-undiscovered brain tumour.

Gary lost control of the Mercedes van which veered off the northbound carriageway of the M6 and flipped on its side as it hit a verge, ending up on the hard shoulder facing oncoming traffic between junctions 15 and 16.

The chemical dosing engineer blacked out while his brave son tried to stay calm, found his dad's phone in a footwell, then called 999.

Gary said: "The call handler asked him whereabouts we were but of course he had no idea. I was unconscious and not responding. I don’t really remember any of it."

Concerned motorists stopped to help free Hayden and Buster by getting a saw out of the back of the van and using it to open a window while others told the paramedics where the accident had happened.

Hayden remembers the terrifying moment his dad slumped over the wheel and the van tipped sideways.

He said: “I was really scared. I didn’t have a clue where we were and Buster wouldn’t stop barking, so I had to try and calm him down at the same time.

"Dad was trying to undo his seatbelt and I was shouting at him to stop, otherwise he would’ve fallen on me and crushed me.

“I remember a man and woman came to help and they told me to look away as they broke in with the saw to rescue us. I covered Buster’s eyes with one hand and my dad’s eyes with the other.

“I would love to thank the people who pulled over to help. If they hadn’t stopped, things could’ve been very different. My dad and I have always been close but this shared experience brought us even closer together."

Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service then freed Gary with the help of West Midlands Ambulance Service. Now he wants to find the kind-hearted strangers who saved his son and beloved pooch.

The 43-year-old added: “We were so lucky that several motorists stopped to help. I owe so much to the members of the public who rescued Hayden and Buster and the emergency services who came to our aid.

"There’s a photo of a young man holding Buster on a lead, keeping him safe from the traffic and I’d love to track him down.

"I know that one of the paramedics took Buster from the M6 and followed the ambulance in a response car. They were just amazing.

“I woke up at 9pm on New Year’s Eve 2018 in Royal Stoke University Hospital with no idea where I was or what had happened. My ex-wife, Gemma, and my son were at my bedside and I was told my parents were on their way.

“I’ve always regretted that I never got to thank the wonderful people who stopped to help us. I will be forever grateful for what they did that day. It would be lovely if Hayden and I could meet them, to express our sincere gratitude"

“And I'm indebted to Hayden for making that 999 call. The things he has dealt with make him an absolute hero and I couldn’t be prouder. He has shown such strength in the face of adversity. Without Hayden, I would have struggled so much. I'm so proud of what a team we've become.”

Gary and his sister Julie Jones, 42, grew up in Upper Stratton and attended Ruskin Junior School and Kingsdown School. The single dad played for West Swindon as an adult and moved to Bradford a few years ago.

His parents Carol and Jeff moved north to live nearer to him after the crash.

Julie said “I remember that fateful night only too well. I got a call from Mum who was very distressed and I only picked up the words ‘Gary’ and ‘accident’. I ended up driving Mum and Dad to Stoke-on-Trent.

“I am incredibly proud of Hayden to have thought on his feet in such a traumatic situation. He is an amazing kid who is Gary’s rock.”