DISASTER was narrowly averted on a busy Brentford road last week, when a heroic resident stopped a runaway juggernaut after the driver collapsed at the wheel.

The J French articulated lorry had already ploughed through a set of lights into oncoming traffic, when the brave Isleworth resident leapt into the driver's cab and slammed on the brakes, last Thursday afternoon.

Despite receiving medical treatment at the scene and at West Middlesex hospital, the driver later died of suspected heart failure.

The lorry had been going south on Boston Manor Road at around 2.30pm, when it reached the junction with the A4 Great West Road.

As it did so the driver was seen to slump unconscious over the steering wheel, even though the lorry was still ticking over.

John Butler, who works for a waste disposal company, had been driving behind the J French lorry with his son when he realised that something was wrong.

He said: I'd been in my lorry with my son travelling towards the Comdisco building on Boston Manor Road, when the lorry pulled out in front of me just before the traffic lights.

I knew something was up because when the lights turned to green, the lorry didn't move. I remember saying to my son that something had probably jammed [in the lorry].''

He was horrified when the lights changed to red and the lorry started moving forwards, in front of the on-coming traffic.

The vehicle, still ticking over, went straight through the traffic lights on the south side of the junction, before continuing on its way over the junction and causing oncoming traffic to swerve desperately to avoid it.

In an act of selfless heroism, Mr Butler drove alongside the lorry until it reached the next set of traffic lights, jumped out of his truck and ran around the back of the lorry.

Exposed to the oncoming traffic, he jumped onto the lorry's footwell, opened the door, and jammed the footbrake with his hand bringing it to a halt.

Other members of the public gathered around to lift the driver out of his compartment, and a doctor from the nearby health centre, along with Mr Butler, began attempts at resuscitation, before being relieved by an ambulance crew. He later died in hospital.

When interviewed Mr Butler was remarkably self-effacing about his act of bravery, saying: At the time it was all just a blur, a dream. I was on auto-pilot. Afterwards I thought about it more and it seemed a little more scary.''

Sergeant John McMaree, of the Met Police collision unit, was full of praise for Mr Butler's quick-thinking action.

He said: Absolutely no question about it, it was heroic and brave. There's a fine line between that and foolhardy, and I'm not sure I would have done what he did, but without a doubt the accident would have been much more serious had he not done what he did. All my praises go to the man - he did the job and it was great.''