‘Flames were spreading to petrol tank’: Off-duty firefighter who pulled man from burning car ‘just doing his job’

John Shannon (43) was driving home to Larne from Ballymena Fire Station after his shift on Sunday evening when the crash happened.

As traffic came to a standstill at around 6pm, he jumped out of his car on the Larne Link Road and heard a woman screaming that someone was trapped in a BMW which had caught fire.

“There were at least two walking wounded from the vehicles,” Mr Shannon said.

“The front door of one of the cars was open and the driver was slumped half way out of his seat.

“I ran around and reached across to unclip him. I got under his arms and dragged him about 10 metres from the car. It was well alight and the flames were spreading to the petrol tank.

“The police were on the scene very quickly and an officer helped me to get the injured man further away and then I put him in the recovery position.”

Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service has praised “quick actions” of the off-duty firefighter who said he had limited options without access to any specialist equipment.

“My hands were tied,” he said.

“I was worried he was going to stop breathing and got a defibrillator, but thankfully it wasn’t needed. An off-duty paediatric nurse helped me to keep him in that position.

“He was completely unconscious, but came around and was able to describe his injuries. He was squirming with the pain.

“A doctor came on the scene at that point and was able to take over first aid until paramedics arrived and administered pain relief. Then fire crews turned up and I was able to brief them on what had happened, it was all very quick and over in a few minutes.”

The PSNI, Ambulance Service, Air Ambulance and St John Ambulance also assisted at the scene.

“Officers were travelling in the area shortly after 6pm when they observed three vehicles severely damaged, one of which was on fire,” a police spokesperson previously said.

“Colleagues from the Ambulance Service also attended the scene, and three people — two men and a woman — were subsequently taken to hospital for treatment for injuries, which at this time, are not believed to be life threatening.”

It’s understood the driver who was saved suffered a broken hip and injuries to his arm.

“He is really lucky it happened where it did,” Mr Shannon said.

“I’m a trained firefighter and was very aware of the flames in the car. You are not supposed to move people who are injured, but I had no choice.”

Mr Shannon also dismissed praise for his heroic actions.

“I’m a firefighter, it’s what I do,” he said.

“I did what I’ve been trained to do, I’m not in it for the glory.

“I have a duty of care to the public and an obligation to act when I’m needed.

“I’m very grateful others were there to help and that emergency service crews arrived as quickly as they did.”