'Hero' rescuer hailed after Shifnal Airfield crash

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-shropshire-33402755

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A man who raced to the aid of two people trapped in a burning plane that had crashed in a Shropshire airfield has been hailed as a life saver.

The pilot, in his 60s, broke an arm, leg and ankle when the plane crashed and turned upside at Shifnal Airfield.

The ambulance service said the "hero" rescuer put out a blaze on the aircraft with a fire extinguisher.

The passenger, a man in his 50s, who had head and neck injuries, was then dragged to safety by the rescuer.

Fire reignited

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said the "aircraft was upside down at Shifnal Airfield and on fire with the pilot and his companion inside" when the man ran to their aid.

"In addition to calling the ambulance service, the man ran towards the burning craft with a fire extinguisher," he said.

"He put out the fire and dragged the passenger out. But the fire reignited around the feet of the pilot and this was again extinguished."

The pilot, who also suffered a dislocated shoulder, was trapped in the aircraft and was freed by emergency services. He was flown to Royal Stoke University Hospital.

"Without doubt, the hero of the hour was the eyewitness to the crash without whose actions this could have ended up far, far more serious," the spokesman said.

The crash happened at about 10:45 BST.