Suffolk lorry driver who rescued elderly motorist on M18 in South Yorkshire dubbed 'St Christopher'

A lorry driver has been dubbed "Saint Christopher" after he came to the rescue of an elderly motorist left stranded when her tyres exploded on a motorway.

Pauline Sharp, 76, was driving along the M18 in South Yorkshire after leaving her home in North Lincolnshire when she lost control of her car.

Suffolk trucker Christopher Dornelly, who was in a lorry behind her, shepherded her to the side of the road and stayed with her until police and a recovery company arrived.

Pauline said: "I think I met God that day. I really do. Something was saving me because, on paper, I shouldn't be here.

"Everybody's calling him Saint Christopher. He's one of the nicest people you'll ever meet - he's messaged me every day to see if I'm all right."

Pauline was on her way to Rotherham on 13 March when her car "lit up like a Christmas tree" and started emitting smoke.

She said: "This lorry driver came up behind me and was flashing me. He then overtook me, guided me to the side and pulled out in front to shield me from traffic."

Christopher, who had just finished a delivery to Selby, got out of his cab and put on a high-visibility jacket before warning traffic to move to one side.

Pauline added: "He held my hand, took me out [of the car] and then walked me to the nearest barrier. Then we called the police and the recovery people and he stayed with me that whole time.

"It was terrifying and very scary, but he calmed me down like you wouldn't believe. We started talking about his family and my family."

Before he left, Pauline asked if she could take Christopher's photograph to remember him.

Her son later launched a Facebook campaign to track him down and an online fundraiser called "Buy Christopher a pint".

The post was liked 39,000 times, with more than £1,300 donations to the fundraising page.

Christopher told ITV News: "Everything just kicked off. It was overwhelming seeing all these kind messages coming in thick and fast.

"I was literally blown away."

He said he would donate some of the money to charity, adding: "I love helping people - I feel it's a duty for me. If I am on the road and I see someone that needs help, I make sure I can help them. You don't know if it's a life or death situation."

Abby Holden, director at Anglia Freight, where Christopher has worked for seven years, said: "He is the very best of the best."

"He is pure joy to work with and brings a real positivity in whatever he does. He will do little gestures throughout the day to make someone's life better."

Pauline, who has been in touch with Christopher almost daily, said: "Be more Christopher... if there's more people like him then the world would be a better place."

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