Heroes honoured for saving motorist’s life
Published: July 30, 2007
UK — Two men who risked their lives pulling an unconscious man from a burning vehicle have been shortlisted for a life saving award.
Jerry Gottlieb and Bob Tuppen have been crowned regional finalists in the Vodafone Life Savers Awards after dragging a 53-year-old man from his Jaguar just seconds before it blew up on the A259 in Eastbourne on March 6.
The men were driving in the opposite direction when they saw the car on fire and jumped out of their vehicles to rescue the driver who was trapped inside.
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The Jaguar had crashed into a tree and burst into flames. The passenger seat was on fire and the men struggled to open the driver’s door and to release the seatbelt.
They eventually managed to drag the casualty out of the car, which then exploded.
Mr Gottlieb, 61, of Eastbourne Road, East Dean, who worked for the Metropolitan Police for 31 years, was on his way to a volunteer job as an ambulance driver for Eastbourne Blind Society when he saw what he thought was a bonfire at the side of the road.
After the incident he told The Argus: “I got out of my car and saw the driver’s window was thick with smoke but I could see a guy inside.
“Flames were coming from the engine and I couldn’t get the door open so I picked up a piece of metal from by the side of the road to smash my way in. I then saw Bob beside the car and he got the door open.”
With the help of Mr Tuppen, 58, of Dittons Road, Polegate, who runs a furniture shop in Eastbourne, they carried the man away from the burning vehicle.
Seconds later the men said they heard a sound like guns being fired as the car blew to pieces.
The driver was taken to Eastbourne District General Hospital suffering from chest, head and arm injuries but was soon on the road to recovery.
The men were nominated for the Vodafone Life Savers Award by Sussex Police and have been shortlisted in the South East heat.
Their entry will go before a Regional Judging Panel and the Vodafone UK and Awards charity partner, the Royal Humane Society, which will select two regional winners to fly the flag for the South East.
If Mr Gottlieb and Mr Tuppen are successful, their entry will go to a judging panel which will select Britain’s top ten most outstanding life saving stories for national recognition.
The winners will be presented with their award by the Prime Minister Gordon Brown at 10 Downing Street in November.
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