BRAVE patrolman Rick Buckley will tonight be confirmed as a true British hero.

The Stamford Bridge resident was recently honoured by his AA bosses after saving a York student when her minibus careered down a 400ft slope.

Tonight, Rick, 30, of Garrowby View, will receive an outstanding act of bravery award at the Daily Mirror's Pride Of Britain ceremony, attended by a clutch of celebrities, headed by Prince Charles and Tony Blair.

Last August, Rick was driving at the Hole of Horcum, between Pickering and Whitby, when "a minibus passed and suddenly there was a massive smash".

He found the van was halfway down a 400ft slope, where it had been stopped by a tree.

Rick said: "I was the only one around, so it was either me or nobody, so over I went."

Trapped inside the vehicle was 21-year-old University of York student Helen Grieve.

Rick said: "She was hanging from her middle by her seatbelt, upside down and crying: 'I can't feel my legs.'"

"She was also trapped between the door pillar and roof, which had been crushed in on impact."

Despite the danger of the bus plunging further, Rick climbed in, supporting Helen before help arrived.

He said: "It seemed like the longest 15 minutes of my life. I was thinking, please don't die on me. The whole time the van was creaking and groaning. I was a scared because I was trying to calm her down."

Helen was airlifted to hospital and has made a full recovery. Doctors say she would have died within minutes without Rick. He is modest about his rescue, saying: "Everyone keeps saying I'm brave, but I'm just me, little Rick Buckley."

But Pride Of Britain judges said: "Rick put his own life in danger to help a stranger. He calls himself little Rick Buckley, but it takes a big man to do that."

The awards will be broadcast on ITV1 at 9pm on Tuesday.

Updated: 10:38 Monday, March 15, 2004