A Norwich man and woman and a city Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) who rescued a driver from his blazing car have been awarded national bravery honours by Royal approval.
A city Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) who helped rescue a driver from his blazing car has been awarded national bravery honours by Royal approval.
PCSO Paul McAllister, along with a man and woman who cannot be identified, are to receive Royal Humane Society Testimonials on Vellum personally signed and approved by Princess Alexandra, the Society's President.
The trio fought to drag a 35-year-old man out of his car after it crashed along the A419 at Smallburgh.
The horror incident happened just after midnight on July 18.
PCSO McAllister, who is based at Sprowston police station, was travelling home at the end of a shift when he spotted the car on fire.
However, when he went to pull the driver out assisted by the man and woman who had also stopped, the driver struggled to get the man out of the vehicle.
Between them they managed to get him out.
Thanks to the speed with which they were on the scene, they thwarted what could have been a devastating incident and the man ended up being treated for minor injuries.
Andrew Chapman, secretary of the Royal Humane Society, praised them for their fight to save the man.
He said: 'Anyone who goes near a car that is on fire is putting themselves at tremendous risk.
'There is always the danger of an explosion.
'However, PC McAllister and the two members of the public didn't hesitate and as a result the man only suffered minor injuries.
'The three of them richly deserve the awards they are to receive.'
PCSO McAllister also received a bravery award at the 10th annual Norfolk Safer Community Awards (NOSCAs).
Earlier this year lorry driver Russell Dagless was awarded a Royal Humane Society Testimonial on Vellum after he used his vehicle to stop an out of control van on the A47 after the driver collapsed at the wheel.
Mr Dagless used his vehicle to trap the van against the safety barrier and bring it to a halt.
Police said that not only had he saved the driver's life but that he had also prevented a possibly worse accident involving other vehicles.
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