Good Samaritan pulls lucky driver to safety following river plunge

The truck carrying a crane lies submerged after plunging off a bridge. A marking line surrounds it. Photo / AAP

Quick-thinking motorist Sam Manning did not hesitate before diving into a river to rescue a driver whose truck had plunged 10m off a bridge north of the Gold Coast.

The truck, carrying a crane, was being driven along the M1 when it crashed through a guard rail and fell off a bridge, sinking into the Coomera River shortly after 6am local time.

Manning, a 36-year-old construction worker, was driving to work when he noticed the bridge's damaged rail.

"I knew the boat ramp was there so I went around to see if anything was in the river because I could tell someone had gone over," he said.

Upon seeing the half-submerged crane, Manning jumped into the water and swam out to the man.

The driver, believed to be aged in his 50s, had managed to free himself from the submerged cab and was sitting dazed on the crane.

"I just rolled him over on his back and swam back in with him," Manning said.

"We sat him on the bank for a bit and let him regain his composure ... by then the ambulances just started arriving. But you see someone in the river like that, you just swim in and grab them."

The driver was taken to Gold Coast University Hospital with hip pain and cuts to his head.

It is not known what caused the truck to crash off the edge of the bridge.

Attempts to float the crane and lift it out of the water at a nearby boat ramp might take a long time, a Queensland police spokesman said.

Oil leaking from the truck was quickly contained.

Northbound commuters experienced heavy delays during peak hour.

However, all lanes were reopened yesterday afternoon.

- AAP