A FLOATING bridge passenger has praised staff as 'heroes' after her car battery died on board.

Elsie Smith, 88, of Osborne Heights, East Cowes says she would have gotten hypothermia if wasn't the kind actions of floating bridge staff members, Tony, Eric and Dawn.

Mrs Smith, who is somewhat disabled, became stranded on the cross-Medina service yesterday (Wednesday) at 3.10pm when the battery died on her Suzuki Wagon-R.

"I didn't have the engine running but I had the radio on and the window wipers going as it was chucking it down," said Mrs Smith.

"I didn't know the battery was low."

She says quick-thinking Tony told her to call the AA, and kind staff member Dawn spoke to them as she couldn't hear them very well on the phone.

"They're heroes," added Mrs Smith. "They were wonderful. I would have gotten hypothermia if it wasn't them."

The AA told the stranded passenger that it would be a three hour wait for a mechanic to be sent out, so the staff produced a blanket for her and made her feel comfortable in the pedestrian area.

Mrs Smith finally made it home just after 6pm but wanted to extend her thanks to crew members and manager Mark Downer who looked after her.