Wrexham Man Who Rescued 73-Year-Old From Burning Car Hailed a ‘Hero’

A Wrexham man has been hailed a ‘superhero’ and an ‘angel’ after risking his life to save a 73-year-old grandmother who was trapped in a car fire on a busy motorway.

Will Edwards, aged 24 from Wrexham, was a passenger in his girlfriend Alison’s car when they spotted a vehicle on fire on the side of the M60 near Barton Bridge in Greater Manchester, last December.

The car, driven by 73-year-old Anne Wade from Liverpool, was almost fully ablaze when they pulled up behind it. The electrics had failed meaning the doors were locked, leaving Anne trapped in the vehicle.

Will smashed through the glass of the car door, cutting his arm and severing two tendons before dragging Anne from the wreckage.

He spent two days in hospital at the fire and had to take time off from his job at the Asda supermarket in Wrexham while he regained the use of the fingers on his right hand.

Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service awarded Will a bravery award for his actions, which saved Anne’s life.

The pair today reunited for the first time since the accident at Will’s workplace, Asda in Wrexham where he is Home Shopping Section Leader – and they shared an emotional catch-up as Anne said “thank you” to her hero in person, over a cup of tea.

Anne Wade, a grandmother from Liverpool, travelled from her home to meet the man she describes as an “angel from heaven” after he bravely saved her life.

Will Edwards, commented: “It was absolutely lovely to see Anne again, in much nice circumstances this time, and I’m pleased she is feeling better.

“People have asked me if I thought about what I was doing but I didn’t, I just did what I hope everyone would do. We could see her trapped inside so we had to help her and pulled up behind her car, which was already on fire.

“There was no way she was getting out by herself, she was in shock, the doors were locked and the whole front of the car was on fire.

“It wasn’t until after I got her out and she was taken away in an ambulance that I realised the tendons were basically hanging out of my arm and it was turning blue. I must have cut it on the broken glass when I reached in to unlock the door.”

Anne, who has a daughter and two grandchildren, was driving home to Liverpool from her daughter’s house in Leeds when smoke and flames began to pour from the bonnet because of an electrical fault.

She spent five days in hospital recovering from the effects of smoke inhalation.

She said: “I’m still recovering but I really wanted to make the journey down to Wrexham to see Will and say thank you to him in person for how grateful I am.”

On the rescue, Anne added: “I realised I couldn’t get out, and was going to call the emergency services but I knew they wouldn’t get to me in time, so I thought ’I’ve had it’.

“Then I heard Will knocking on the window – he was like an angel from heaven.

“What can you say about someone who has saved your life? Thank you is not enough. He is amazing, very very brave, and deserves every accolade and award he gets. I will be grateful to him for the rest of my life.”

Shaun Leech, store manager at the Asda Wrexham store, added: “We all think he’s a superhero! You would love to say you would do the same in that situation, but how many people actually would?

“He’s such a nice guy and so humble, everyone at the store is very proud of him.”