Bus passengers hailed a bus driver as a hero after he suffered a fatal haemorrhage at the wheel but in a dying act ensured their safety.

The driver managed to bring the bus to a stop before dying in the arms of his wife, Yangtze Evening News reported on Friday.

At about 8 am on Oct 31, Dong Hongnian, 45, was driving the packed Route 509 bus, in Suzhou, Jiangsu province.

He suddenly turned to his wife, sitting near him, and complained of a terrible headache. He managed to bring the bus to safe stop on the roadside before collapsing.

Police and doctors rushed to the scene where it was confirmed that he had suffered a massive haemorrhage.

Passengers said he was a hero for managing to bring the bus to stop safely.