On an ordinary afternoon last month, a group of Aquinas College students demonstrated extraordinary bravery and quick-thinking, averting what could have been a tragic accident.
The incident occurred on July 8, when a contracted school bus carrying 27 students was suddenly thrown into a dangerous situation. The driver, stricken by a medical emergency, lost control of the vehicle just outside the college.
In that critical moment, a handful of students took immediate action. They steered the bus to a safe stop, attended to the driver’s needs, and ensured the safety of their fellow passengers, as reported by Catholic Leader.
During a special ceremony honoring these brave students, Marcus Richardson, Principal of Aquinas College in Ashmore, highlighted the significance of their actions. He noted that the incident was a powerful reminder of the values the school community holds dear: faith, courage, compassion, and belonging. He went on to share:
I’m really proud of how all our students conducted themselves and intervened to support someone in need. Today, we gathered and reflected on the goodness in our young people and our community – with this being one great instance of our staff and students living out our vision to be the difference in our world.”
Gratitude from emergency services
The response from the broader community was equally profound. Both the Queensland Police Service (QPS) and Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) shared their gratitude for the students' quick and courageous actions.
John Nolan, QAS Senior Operations Supervisor, also commended the students for their bravery, acknowledging that their decisive intervention prevented what could have been a disastrous outcome.
It was a brave moment for these young teenagers to immediately react and prevent what was shaping to be a disastrous crash for the passengers on the bus and other motorists and pedestrians on the road,” Nolan pointed out. “Everyone is safe today because of their intervention, and they should be proud.”
QPS crash investigator Acting Sergeant Shona Hartles also praised the students, noting the potential severity of the situation: “I commend the bravery of the students who acted selflessly, and without hesitation, and in doing so potentially averted a far more serious incident,” she said. “Those students did themselves, their families, and their communities proud that day.”
The ceremony was also attended by Brisbane Catholic Education Executive Director Dr. Sally Towns, Queensland Police Service Coomera forensic crash investigator Acting Sergeant Shona Hartles, and Queensland Ambulance Service Gold Coast Region district director Justin Payne, all of whom joined in recognizing and celebrating the students' heroic efforts.
What is particularly inspiring about the story is that in a world where challenges often arise unexpectedly, the actions of these students serve as a beacon of hope and a reminder of the power of courage, compassion, and community. Their story is not just about preventing a disaster but about embodying the values that can truly make a difference in our world.
