Twelve-year-old girl takes wheel from dying dad on Newcastle road

A 12-year-old girl has taken over the wheel and steered a car to safety after her father suffered a medical episode and lost control.

They were travelling along Canley Avenue in Kotara, Newcastle, around 8.40pm on Wednesday when their car crossed to the wrong side of the road onto oncoming traffic.

The girl grabbed the wheel, steering the car from the road and mounting the kerb before eventually stopping after hitting a tree.

An off-duty policeman provided medical assistance to the 51-year-old man until paramedics arrived.

He was taken to hospital but could not be revived.