SALTCOATS councillor Jim Montgomerie became a real life Superman when he rushed behind the wheel of a car to rescue an 81-year-old woman who was trapped underneath a wheel.

Jim was driving past the corner of the Windy Ha’ pub on Friday afternoon when he heard a woman screaming and stopped his council van to see what was going on.

When he arrived to where the screams were coming from, Jim saw the pensioner was pinned underneath the car with a small crowd around her trying to help.

The passers-by had stopped and were frantically trying to lift the car up to release the woman who lay screaming in agony.

They were busy trying to work as a team and use their strength to lift the car off the woman but nothing was budging it.

So quick-thinking Jim flew into superhero mode, went behind the wheel of the car to release the handbrake and asked one of the Good Samaritans to push the car from behind.

And his plan worked. Within minutes the pensioner was set free and the ambulance had arrived to take her to Crosshouse Hospital.

“I was driving by the Windy Ha’ on my way to the council offices and I had the window down when I heard what sounded like a woman screaming,” said Jim.

“When I got closer I realised what was happening and I thought, right, what can be done to help this poor woman?

“Everyone was busy trying to lift the motor up but it wasn’t for moving so I thought it made sense to get in the car and try and roll it.

“As I moved the car, a young lad pushed it and with a bit of grit and a lot of luck, she was finally free.

“The woman was in such pain, it was awful but two women had stopped and were trying their best to calm her down until the ambulance arrived.

“She was in so much pain, my heart went out to her and I have to say the people who were there and were comforting her were amazing and it was a team effort.

“One woman held the lady’s head the whole time she was under the car and when she was free I just kept talking to her, really talking about myself, to try and take her mind off her pain.

“I spoke to her daughter and I understand she had a badly broken leg and had to have an operation.

“I’m praying she makes a full recovery.”