Police honoured for rescuing man from burning car

PC Anna O'Donoghue says it was "surreal" but "really nice" to be nominated for a bravery award

Two police officers have described how "instinct took over" when they dragged an injured man from a burning car moments before it exploded.

PC Callum Simpson and PC Anna O'Donoghue, of Northamptonshire Police, came across a vehicle that had crashed into a fuel pump at high speed.

"We weren't sent to the job, we didn't have any time to come up with a plan of action," said PC O'Donoghue.

The pair have been recognised for their actions with a nomination at the National Police Bravery Awards.

They were driving along the A45 in Wellingborough in December 2023 when they saw a petrol station on fire, so pulled over.

"We didn't expect anybody to be trapped inside the vehicle. As soon as we got out, we heard this awful scream, a cry for help," said PC O'Donoghue.

"We ran towards the car and saw a man trying to drag another badly injured, unconscious man out of the burning car."

They managed to drag the driver out of the vehicle to safety just in time, as flames soon engulfed the car, followed by a series of explosions.

Both officers gave first aid to the injured driver, despite the fire burning out of control close by.

PC Simpson said: "We didn't have time to think about anything, we just wanted to get him as far away as possible."

PC O'Donoghue added: "Sometimes when you have too much time to think, you over-think, but in that split second, your instinct takes over.

"Being emergency responders, we save life and limb. How could we not run towards the burning car? We had to."

She said it was a "surprise" to be nominated for a bravery award.

"Every day in this job you do things which are traumatic and impactful and you very rarely get recognised for good work," she said.

"So to be nominated as the bravest of Northants – it feels surreal, and maybe a bit unnecessary, but it's really nice."

Northamptonshire Police Federation chair Sam Dobbs said: "Callum and Anna displayed incredible bravery to pull the driver from a burning vehicle.

"There is no doubt in my mind that their quick-thinking and heroic actions saved the driver's life. We couldn't be prouder of them."