A MAN who leapt from a moving car on the M2 is expected to be released from hospital early next week.

Motorists were delayed for up to three hours while paramedics and firefighters tended to 22-year-old Daniel Irwin who was driving from Northfleet having visited his one-year-old son.

Daniel's mother Melanie has thanked everyone who helped her son after he jumped from his car as it sped along the coastbound carriageway between Chatham and Gillingham last Friday (June 19) at 6pm.

The former Minster College student was airlifted to the Royal London Hospital with burns to his arms, legs and back plus cuts to his face and head. Amazingly he didn’t break any bones.

Daniel was driving back to his home in the Broadway, Minster.

In a bizarre coincidence mum Melanie was on her way to Northfleet herself with other son Aaron, 19, when she spotted Daniel’s smouldering car at the side of the road.

They pulled onto the hard shoulder and crossed the motorway to find Daniel being treated by medics.

She wants to thank everyone who helped, especially an off-duty nurse who stopped and a man named ‘Chas’ from Herne Bay who came across the accident and stopped the traffic.

Speaking of the moment she saw the car, she said: "I couldn’t believe it, I felt sick; petrified."

Daniel hasn’t spoken about what happened exactly but Mrs Irwin, 46, of Iwade, is speculating a fire may have started in the car.

Police are still appealing for witnesses.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact the serious collision investigation unit on 01622 798535.