QUICK-thinking staff from South Western Ambulance Service rescued a man from a burning car on Friday night in Barnstaple.

The ambulance crew was travelling along the A39 in Barnstaple just before 10pm when they came across a two-vehicle road traffic collision (RTC).

Three of the four family members in one car had managed to get out of the vehicle, but the father was trapped in the driver’s seat.

Two members of the public had been trying in vain to open the driver’s door and the crew noticed there was smoke and flames beginning to come from the car engine.

Having contacted the control room to request back-up, student paramedic Lisa Jordan and paramedic Dan Ferne knew time was of the essence.

Lisa grabbed the fire extinguisher from the ambulance and held back the flames coming from the engine while Dan, along with the two members of the public, pulled the man from the vehicle through the window.

Dan and Lisa said: “As soon as we saw the car was catching fire we knew we had to get the man out as quickly as possible before the flames took hold. His family was understandably very distraught and screaming for him to get out of the car. He had suffered two broken arms and the driver’s door was so damaged it just could not be opened.”

All five people involved in the RTC were taken to North Devon District Hospital.

The mother and father required treatment for their injuries and their two teenage children were taken in alongside them as a precautionary measure. The driver of the other vehicle also required further treatment at hospital.

Colin Bolsom, Dan and Lisa’s operations manager, said: “Coming across an incident is always hard as you don’t have the time while travelling to the location to plan your approach and decide initial actions.

“Dan and Lisa recognised the time-critical nature of the incident and their quick thinking and selfless bravery ultimately saved a life.”

Dan and Lisa added: “We would really like to thank all members of the public who assisted with this difficult situation, especially the two gentlemen who helped get the patient out of the car, their actions undoubtedly helped save the man’s life.”