Hero Robert braves flames to save man (From Gazette Series)

Hero Robert braves flames to save man

AN Army volunteer from Cam risked life and limb at the weekend to save a trapped motorist from the burning wreck of a car.

Robert Kuczaj, who served in the Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire TA for 37 years, was driving to Stroud with his wife Pat on Saturday afternoon when they came across a horrific accident on Selsley Common.

Without a thought for his own safety, Mr Kuczaj fought flames and managed to free a 47-year-old Dursley man who was trapped in his Renault Megane, which had hit a tree after careering off the B4066 near Nympsfield Gliding Club.

Other motorists stopped to help the trapped driver and used car fire extinguishers in a desperate attempt to rescue him. Mr Kuczaj, 55, said: "People driving towards us were waving their hands and flashing their lights.

"A lady came towards us asking for a fire extinguisher."

Nurse Pat Kuczaj, 51, thought she might be able to lend a hand but as the brave couple approached they realised the severity of the situation. Mr Kuczaj told the Gazette on Tuesday: "I got out and ran towards the car in the ditch. People had already used two fire extinguishers but it didn't seem to be working.

"There was a small flame under the bonnet and smoke was building up in the car.

"I just tried to reassure the guy but I didn't think I could get him out." Not long after Mr Kuczaj arrived on the scene a fireball engulfed the footwell of the car.

"I thought to myself he's going to burn to death unless I get him out," the brave hero said. "I couldn't walk away and let him die." Mr Kuczaj managed to pull the door of the car open but struggled to free the driver.

"Eventually I managed it but I don't know how I did it. He was a big chap, so I wasn't going to get him out on my own. I told him he had to help me. "Then his leg started to burn and I think it clicked in his head that if he didn't try and help himself he was going to die.

"I got the seatbelt undone, but he really was a dead weight - two other blokes came and helped and we pulled him down the embankment clear of the car in case it blew up."

A few moments later the fire service and an air ambulance arrived taking the driver to Frenchay Hospital, where he remains in a stable condition. The lucky survivor has not been named.

The B4066 remained closed for four hours after the smash while police investigated the scene.

Police are appealing for any witnesses to the incident to come forward. They are particularly keen to speak to a driver who may have been over taken by the Megane moments before the accident.

Anyone with any information should contact Gloucestershire Constabulary on 0845 090 1234 quoting incident number 439 for October 22.