Driver saved from burning car

By EMMA SUN
A MILLGROVE man’s life has been saved after a passing motorist pulled him from his flipped car moments before it burst into flames.
Now police are to nominate his modest rescuer, a 54-year-old woman from Seville East, for a bravery award.
The 19-year-old was driving along Old Gippsland Road in Mount Evelyn last Wednesday morning when he hit a tree.
The car rebounded and flipped onto its roof, causing the engine to catch on fire and trapping the man inside.
Yarra Ranges Highway Patrol Senior Constable Aidan Williams said the person who rescued him, a woman who wished to remain anonymous, was driving towards Lilydale and initially thought someone was burning off when she realised the man was stuck in the car.
After dialling triple zero the woman tried to get the man out of the car but was unable to open the door while another woman sprayed the car with a fire extinguisher to try to put out the flames.
“When the extinguisher ran out the lady panicked and said it was all she could do and started getting hysterical,” he said.
“The other lady who was still there saw the tailgate was open so she climbed in through the boot, grabbed him by the arms and pulled him out while the car was on fire.”
Paramedics checked the man at the scene before taking him to The Alfred hospital in a stable condition with non-life threatening injuries.
Firefighters from Wandin, Lilydale and Mount Evelyn were called to the scene at about 9.30am.
Wandin captain Peter Polovinka said the car was fully engulfed in flames when they arrived but crews extinguished the fire within minutes.
Sen Const Williams said the driver was extremely lucky that the woman had been there to save him.
“The lady has definitely gone beyond her call of duty – she seemed to think everybody would do it but I don’t know many people that would when the car’s on fire and there’s a bloke stuck in there,” he said.
“I think everybody would like to think they could do that but there are not too many people like her that would risk their own life because it takes a lot of guts to get someone out.
“I wouldn’t even bother buying a lottery ticket because he’s used up all his luck. To walk away from that is unbelievable.”
Sen Const Williams said he would nominate the hero for a bravery award.
“She put herself in a position that could’ve gotten her killed, I’m thankful for her doing that and I’m sure the young bloke was very thankful,” he said.
Police are still investigating the cause of the incident but said inexperience was a factor.