THREE North Yorkshire heroes who rescued a man and a woman from burning wreckage after a horrific car crash have been commended for their bravery.

The drama unfolded last December when Gwyn Kwiatkowski and Christine Ramsay, both of Linton-on-Ouse, and Paul Yates, of Selby, were driving home from work separately. They saw two cars jammed together at Moor Lane, Newton-on-Ouse, off the A19, one of which was on fire.

Mr Kwiatkowski saw a man stagger from a car which was engulfed in flames and collapse in front of him.

Fuel was running from the car, so Mr Kwiatkowski pulled the man out of the way before the fire got worse.

Mrs Ramsay rushed from her car and put the man in the recovery position, while Mr Kwiatkowski and Mr Yates quickly realised two people were trapped inside the other car - one still alive.

The men tied a rope between the car and Mr Kwiatkowski's pick-up truck and dragged it away from the other vehicle, while Mrs Ramsay comforted the trapped teenager, whose boyfriend had died beside her.

All three stayed with the casualties until the Yorkshire Air Ambulance arrived to take the injured to hospital.

Yesterday the trio were awarded Chief Fire Officers' Commendations at Acomb fire station.

Mrs Ramsay, 56, said: "I saw the girl trapped in the well of the car by her legs, screaming and shouting. A bolt of fire came towards the car, so Gwyn and Paul moved the car another 20 yards while I held her. It was horrendous, she was petrified."

Mr Kwiatkowski, 32, said "My heart jumped into my mouth when I saw the crash. I just saw a dark-coloured car and thought it was my wife.

"We moved the car with the girl inside it but things were popping and banging inside the one that was burning. It was horrific looking at the car with a dead person in it but we just did what was natural."

Mr Yates, 37, said he was honoured to receive the commendation.

"It was very emotional," he said. "The poor girl was terrified and we all felt sad we couldn't do anything to help the lad.

"In a crisis your natural instinct kicks in and you just want to help, I didn't expect all this."

Sub officer Simon Gallagher, of Acomb fire station, said it had been a bad accident.

"There is no doubt in my mind that the actions of these people saved the girl's life. They were very courageous."

Updated: 10:10 Friday, April 09, 2004