Awards for five heroes who came to the rescue after ‘horrific’ three-car collision in Bracklesham Bay

Two of them, Michael Donaldson, 25, of West Wittering, and Claire Neaves, of Bracklesham Bay, are each to receive a Royal Humane Society Bronze Medals, one of the highest bravery honours awarded by the Society.

Firefighter Steven Pearce and Luke Leleu of Birdham are to receive Testimonials on Vellum and Mrs Neaves’ son, Jamie, 16, is to receive one of the Society’s Certificates of Commendation.

The crash took place last year on the evening of July 31 in Bracklesham Lane, when a car collided with two other vehicles.

Two of the cars were hurled through a hedge and burst into flames with their occupants trapped in them.

The driver of the first vehicle died in hospital later that evening but all the other people involved recovered.

Andrew Chapman, secretary of the Royal Humane Society awards, said: “This was a truly horrific incident.

“But thanks to the bravery and perseverance of these award winners four people were rescued from blazing vehicles and three of them went on to survive the ordeal.

“It’s impossible to praise the people who put their own lives on the line to rescue them enough. They were true heroes and richly deserve the awards.”

First on the scene that evening were Mr Donaldson and Mr Leleu.

Ignoring the danger to himself from the flames, Mr Donaldson managed to free the driver of the first vehicle and carry him away.

He then returned and, with Mr Leleu, attempted to free the front seat passenger – however, they were driven back by the fierce heat and flames.

In the meantime Claire and Jamie Neaves, who had heard the crash from their nearby home, arrived at the scene and moved an injured woman away from the first vehicle.

Mrs Neave then gave her first aid and, using a hosepipe, tried to quell the flames in the first vehicle in a bid to get to the man trapped in it.

Jamie went knocking on the doors of neighbours in a bid to get fire extinguishers and raised the alarm when he spotted a man trapped in the second vehicle.

His mother and Mr Donaldson, again ignoring the danger to themselves, went to the vehicle and managed to get the man out.

Mr Pearce, the retained duty system watch commander at East Wittering Fire Station, was among the first crews on scene.

He attempted to rescue the man still trapped in the first burning car and, on failing this, lay on top of the trapped man as a human blanket to protect him from the flames while other firefighters extiguished the fire.

Neil Stocker, Deputy Chief Fire Officer, praised him for ‘this most courageous of acts’.

“The split second decision that Steve took that night to put the safety of the casualty before his own is truly testament to him both as an individual and a firefighter,” he said.

“His quick thinking prevented further suffering to an individual who had already suffered extensive trauma as a result of this road traffic collision.

“As a long-serving member of West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service’s dedicated retained duty system team at East Wittering Fire Station, he would not have had any idea when his pager went off of what he would be faced with when arriving at the fire station that evening.

“That he selflessly stepped in at this person’s hour of need speaks wonders of his dedication to keeping his community safe.

“It is entirely fitting that he, and the members of the community who were also in attendance at the aftermath of this collision, have been recognised in this way, and I would also like to extend my own personal thanks to Steve for this most courageous of acts.”