Death toll in Paradise rises to 42 with 220 still missing making it the deadliest in state history with victims found in charred cars and the ruins of their homes as the total killed across California rises to 44
Kyrsten Sinema becomes the first Democrat in 30 years to win an Arizona US Senate seat beating Republican Martha McSally in the battle to replace frequent Trump critic and GOP stalwart Jeff Flake
Amazon confirms it will choose New York City and Northern Virginia for its much vaunted second headquarters which will be split over two locations
Nuisance robocalls have reached 'epidemic levels' says spam blocking expert - as some admit it's got so bad they don't answer their phone anymore
Las Vegas air traffic controller who slurred her words and passed out for 40 minutes leaving five planes stranded midair 'no longer works for the FAA'
'Dad was told - this is your wheelchair, get used to it. No one should be told that': Paralyzed Superman star Christopher Reeve's son opens up as patients walk again thanks to pioneering treatment supported by late actor's foundation
Why you should ALWAYS wake up before 6am: Psychologists reveal the benefits of being an early riser - including success in love and a lowered risk of depression
Israel destroys Hamas' TV station in the Gaza Strip as three Palestinians are killed and seven Israelis wounded in heaviest exchange of fire since 2014 as the region slips closer to war
Rising Brooklyn Nets star Caris LeVert, 24, is rushed to hospital after suffering horror ankle injury while attempting an aerial block which left players in tears and the arena in stunned silence
Harvey Weinstein's dream team: The defense lawyer who helped Diddy and Michael Jackson walk free and former NYPD detective known as the 'mistress whisperer' dismantling criminal case
Trump's acting attorney general Matt Whitaker 'will consult with ethics officials' over whether to recuse himself from the Mueller investigation
Trump approves Major Disaster Declaration for the State of California to help 'alleviate some of the incredible suffering going on' after heavy criticism for his lack of empathy for the victims of the deadly wildfires
Survivor is blasted for posting grisly video of the charred remains of his OWN FRIENDS he took while fleeing California wildfires
PIERS MORGAN: If you are too much of a narcissist to feel true empathy, Mr Trump - then at least try to FAKE it or you’ll never be a great President
Road to hell: Terrifying ordeal of 27,000 panicked Paradise residents stuck in traffic as they flee wildfires - which saw at least seven burn to death in their cars - as two NEW blazes break out in Southern California
Robin Thicke's girlfriend April Love Geary shares a heartbreaking snap of their decimated home as they survey the wreckage left by California wildfires which have destroyed several celebrity properties
'It's like a war zone': Gerard Butler films the devastation surrounding his smoldering neighborhood after one of the deadly California wildfires tore through the area leaving two dead
Firefighter saves American flag found in town completely destroyed by California wildfire and drapes it on a mailbox in touching tribute
'My kids thought I was dead': Nurses risk their lives to save elderly patients and newborns from California wildfire
Heart-wrenching before and after images reveal how entire communities have been destroyed by the California wildfires
Ireland Basinger-Baldwin takes to Instagram to complain that a police officer accused her of being a LOOTER when she did not have ID to get to her multi-million-dollar Malibu house as wildfires consume hundreds of homes
REVEALED: Kim Kardashian and Kanye West paid for private firefighters to save their mansion and neighbors' homes from California wildfires - as Neil Young slams 'so-called president' Trump after seeing his own property burn down
World's largest firefighting airplane takes to the skies above northern California to drops thousands of gallons of retardant on the raging flames
'It's a new age of firefighting': Fire chief says his men and women are developing PTSD as they work 24 hour shifts to battle deadly California blazes

James Giertz's ute careered from Princess Highway November 2 about 6.30am
He suffered an 'out of the blue' epileptic attack and was pulled from burning car
Mr Giertz thanked his rescuers Belinda Gallasch and Ashlee Inglis for saving him

By Brooke Rolfe For Daily Mail Australia

Published: 23:41 EST, 12 November 2018 | Updated: 23:54 EST, 12 November 2018

e-mail

A tradesman who veered off a highway at 100km/hr after suffering an epileptic fit has praised two brave women who shattered the windscreen of his burning ute and hauled him to safety just moments before the car exploded.

James Giertz's ute careered from the Princess Highway near Tynong, 66 km south-east of Melbourne, after falling unconscious at the wheel on November 2 about 6.30am.

In a mammoth effort from strangers Belinda Gallasch and off-duty nurse, Ashlee Inglis, the 25-year-old was pulled to safety from his burning vehicle.

Amazingly, he woke up shortly after being saved with nothing more than a small cut to his leg and feeling a little bit emotionally wounded.

In a mammoth effort from strangers Belinda Gallasch (right) and off-duty nurse, Ashlee Inglis, the 25-year-old (left) was pulled to safety from his burning vehicle

'I was awake on the roadside. Medically I was fine. Obviously (it was) a bit embarrassing really,' Mr Giertz told Daily Mail Australia.

He has returned to his job as a plasterer but has to car pool with a colleague to work due to his licence being suspended as a 'mandatory' precaution for six months.

His epilepsy had been 'under control', Mr Giertz said, with the Friday morning attack happening completely 'out of the blue'.

Ms Gallasch, from Bairnsdale, was heading home after picking up a photo booth for work when she noticed headlights pointing to the sky from the verge.

Mr Giertz's ute (pictured) careered from the Princess Highway near Tynong, 66 km south-east of Melbourne, after falling unconscious at the wheel November 2 about 6.30am

Ms Gallasch, from Bairnsdale, was heading home after picking up a photo booth for work when she noticed headlights pointing to the sky from the verge (ute pictured down embankment)

She said after seeing two metre flames shooting out from the ute, adrenaline kicked in and her focus became pulling Mr Giertz's body from the wreck.

'The relief of knowing he was out and safe was huge. Adrenalin is an amazing thing that kept me going; it was days later that I realised what I had actually done and how that has impacted so many,' Ms Gallasch told Daily Mail Australia.

'Being reunited with James and the Police on Wednesday again highlighted how close it came to having a different outcome.'

Ms Inglis arrived and let her nursing instincts take over - the pair were able to smash through a window using a piece of broken guard rail.

His epilepsy had been 'under control', Mr Giertz (pictured) said, with the Friday morning attack happening completely 'out of the blue'

She said she hardly considered the danger of the fire, with her main focus staying solely on saving Mr Giertz from perishing in the flames.

Two other male motorists pulled over to help shortly after and assisted in the rescue mission, flagging down a truck and using its fire extinguisher on the car.

Acting Sergeant Luke Hahir has recommended the two women receive formal recognition for their noble work and wanted to acknowledge the other two men.

He told Herald Sun they could contact Pakenham Police Station on 5945 2500.