Brave samaritan saves teen's life

Jan 18 2008 By Catherine Lillington

A TEENAGE girl trapped in her car after it ploughed into a tree and burst into flames early today owes her life to a brave passer-by.

The 18-year-old suffered only minor injuries and was later taken to Heartlands Hospital by paramedics after the accident in Olton Road, Shirley, at about 2.30am.

The trapped girl was dragged from the wreckage of the car by a woman who used to work for the emergency services.

Paramedics said she would have suffered life-threatening burns but for the mystery rescuer.

An ambulance service spokeswoman said: "The young woman's car had collided with a tree and was on fire when we arrived so we called the fire service.

"But a passer-by who was an ex-emergency worker had got the girl out of the vehicle before we got there. There was a lot of damage to the front-end of the vehicle which meant the driver could not get out by herself.

"As the car was on fire, if she had remained there any longer, she would have almost certainly suffered severe burns which could have been life-threatening. The actions of the passer-by prevented this being a far worse story.

"She was very modest and did not want any public acknowledgement for what she did and wouldn't give her name. Fortunately the driver suffered only superficial injuries and was taken to Heartlands Hospital by ambulance."