A motorist used his van to bring a bus to a halt after its driver was taken ill at the wheel.

West Midlands Ambulance Service said the bus driver, who did not have any passengers on board, was taken to hospital in a life-threatening condition after the incident in Wednesbury, near Walsall.

Police were called to Darlaston Road at around 7.35am today to reports of a collision.

An ambulance service spokesman said: "Crews were told that having spotted the man suffering a medical episode at the wheel of the bus, a van driver managed to position his vehicle and successfully bring the bus to a stop.

"The bus driver, a man, was found to be in cardiac arrest and on arrival of ambulance staff, police were already administering excellent CPR.

"Ambulance staff took over treatment and the man's heart was successfully restarted prior to departure for Walsall Manor Hospital but he remains in a critical condition."

The spokesman added: "West Midlands Ambulance Service would like to praise the van driver for ensuring the bus did not collide with any other vehicles and cause further injury, and the police for carrying out early CPR, essential to give the patient the best chance of survival."
 

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