Only did what needed to be done, Metrobus driver says of heroism award

A St. John's bus driver who recently won an award for helping to savea pedestrian's life after she was hit by a car insists he did nothing extraordinary.

• 'An incredible story of heroism': Metrobus driver honoured for life-saving efforts

Max Benson was driving a bus on Water Street in August, when he witnessed a vehicle hit a woman who had been crossing the road.

I looked over and there was blood running down the curb- Max Benson

"I said, 'Oh my god, what's going on' you see her lying on the ground and not moving," said Benson in an interview with CBC Radio'sSt. John's Morning Show.

The woman landed underneath a neighbouring car, and a nurse nearby quickly checked and saw that she had a weak pulse.

But it was Benson that noticed that the woman was suffering a head wound and took action.

"I [saw]something glistening out the corner of my eye, on the sidewalk. I looked over and there was blood running down the curb," he said.

"Someone yelled at me, 'Stop the blood, stop the blood,'" he said.

Benson said he ran back into the bus and retrieved a first aid kit.

"I just grabbed that and climbed in underneath the car, and got the gauze and put it on her head and stopped the bleeding."

Second-degree burns

Benson stayed with the woman for what he thought was about20 minutes, until an ambulance arrived at the scene.

He also sufferedsecond-degree burns in the process, from holding out his hand to prevent exhaust from a hot muffler from reaching the woman.

In November, Benson received a national heroism award from the Canadian Urban Transportation Association, a fact that has him shaking his head.

All he saw that night in August was a woman who needed help, and did what he thought he neededto do.

"I don't want none of this."