Josh Thompson, 30, from Great Yarmouth, has been backpacking in the southern hemisphere for the past three years.

On April 7, as he was driving a semi‑articulated rig from Cairns to Brisbane, in Queensland, a passing car hit the truck, sending it smashing into a barrier under an overpass

Mr Thompson said: "At the time the crash happened, I was enjoying listening to my music, thinking how peaceful the day had gone so far.

The aftermath of the crash in Queensland, Australia. (Image: Supplied)

"At first I was angry because I had been hit. As the trailer was starting to tip over, all the explicit language was coming out."

He said his anger quickly turned to fear as the lorry lurched and he thought it might flip over entirely.

"I thought that was it, I am going to leave a mother, a brother, a nephew and a grandfather behind."

The truck after crashing into the barrier between Cairns and Brisbane. (Image: Supplied)

When the truck finally came to a stop, Mr Thompson saw smoke and grabbed his phone before switching off the electrics and leaping out of the cab.

A passing motorist was already waiting with a fire extinguisher as flames began to take hold.

"I was in shock," Mr Thompson said.

When the paramedics and police arrived, they were amazed that he wasn't injured.

"My legs felt like jelly and was told to sit on the crash barrier. The medics cleared me and the police told me it was 100pc not my fault," Mr Thompson said.

Josh Thompson, 30, from Great Yarmouth, has been travelling around Asia and Australia since 2023. (Image: Supplied)

The driver of the car was arrested and three patients involved in the crash suffered minor injuries.

Mr Thompson went to Northgate Primary, Priory Middle School and Great Yarmouth High School before they became academies.

He left the town in 2023 to travel around Asia and Australia.

© Eastern Daily Press