Bravery award for dragging man from burning car

Barbara Tebb, 41, risked her life to pull the driver of one of the crashed cars from his blazing vehicle which could have exploded at any moment.

Now Ms Tebb, of Sleaford, has been awarded a Royal Humane Society ‘testimonial on vellum’ by Royal approval. And it has been personally approved and signed by Princess Alexandra, the Society’s president.

The collision happened on Boxing Day morning last year along Sleaford Road, at Navenby. Ms Tebb was the front seat passenger in a car when the vehicle in front was involved in a crash. As the vehicle she was in came to a halt she rushed to the scene of the crash and realised that one driver was dead.

The other driver, a 30-year-old Wiltshire man, was trapped in his vehicle with his front seat passenger frantically fighting to free him. The engine bay of the car was ablaze and in danger of exploding.

Despite this Ms Tebb examined the driver, saw that he had an open fracture of the leg and was unable to help himself. She then managed to free him and drag him to safety where he was later treated by police officers who arrived at the scene.

In addition to the award, she has also won the personal praise of the secretary of the Royal Humane Society, Dick Wilkinson.

Speaking at the Society’s London headquarters as he announced the award he said: “She was first on the scene at this horrific crash. She stayed calm where others might have panicked, and pulled the badly injured driver to safety.

“The car could have become a fire ball at any moment but she did not hesitate to fight to get the driver out. It was an incredibly brave action and she richly deserves the award she is to receive. Put simply, she was the right person in the right place at the right time.”

Lincolnshire Police recommended Ms Tebb for the award and in their statement said: “With little regard for her own personal safety she has freed the male from the vehicle and dragged him to safety.

“Barbara’s concern was for the immediate safety of the driver as she could not have known if the car was about to explode with the engine bay on fire.”

Ms Tebb has not been available for comment. No date has yet been fixed for presentation of the award but it is expected to take place in the near future.

Founded in 1774, the Royal Humane Society is the premier national body for honouring bravery in the saving of human life. Today a variety of awards are made depending on the bravery involved.