Hero who rescued driver would do it again

A trainee pilot who rescued an injured truck driver from his burning, semi-trailer on Gold Coast motorway says he'd happily do it again.

Athen Barnaby, 33, climbed onto the truck's cabin and pulled the dazed driver from the wreckage after it crashed and burst into flames on the Pacific Motorway near Nerang on Tuesday afternoon.

"I was just in the right place, right time, and I'd gladly do it ten times over," Mr Barnaby told the Today Show.

The truck was reportedly hit by a flock of birds which caused the driver to lose control.

"I saw the accident, it happened right in front of me ... we were all yelling at him saying `mate you've got to get out of there it's going to blow'."

Mr Barnaby said he jumped on top of the flaming truck wearing only thongs on his feet.

"To be honest I didn't feel the heat much at all ... I had my thick thongs on and I just climbed straight up."