Ambulance staff are honoured for bravery

Paramedic Pete Cownley and emergency medical technician Richard Mitchell, from Wath Ambulance Station, were nominated for the award from the Royal Society for the Protection of Life from Fire by South Yorkshire Police.

In November 2009, the pair were sent to a two-car crash in Treeton in which one of the cars had burst into flames. They saw that two unconscious men were trapped in the front seats and went to rescue them, having to pull the passenger out through the driver’s door.

Mr Mitchell, from Conisbrough, said: “We didn’t waste any time and had to weigh up in seconds what needed to be done.

“The engine compartment of the car was on fire and that’s when I saw the two lads in the front not moving. I shouted to Pete and we acted instinctively.

“It wasn’t until afterwards that we realised how fine the timing had been as the car was fully ablaze within 30 seconds of us pulling them out.”

After Mr Mitchell and Mr Cownley had pulled the occupants clear of the burning car they then administered emergency treatment at the roadside. The vehicle was completely destroyed when fire crews arrived.

Chief Inspector Stuart Walne, head of roads policing in South Yorkshire, said: “Peter and Richard showed extraordinary bravery during this incident and our senior command team had no hesitation in nominating them for this award. Without their actions, the occupants of the car would not have survived.

“As emergency services we all have the duty to protect life but, on this occasion, Peter and Richard’s actions were certainly above and beyond this. They put the safety of the crash victims first and were prepared to put themselves in danger to help them.”