A MAN has spoken of the moment he and his driving instructor helped rescue a driver from his car moments before it burst into flames on a road north of Romsey.

Martin Hancill, 35, was driving a lorry to Stockbridge with his driving instructor Tim Brennan when they spotted a car had flipped onto its roof on the side of the A3057 between Timsbury and Brook on Friday, October 9, at around 1.30pm.

Martin, who is from Wimborne in Dorset, said: “Tim and I were just in the right place at the right time.”

The pair had been planning to turn left and drive down Greatbridge Road, but ended up going right instead and up the A3057 after leaving Romsey industrial estate.

Martin added: “We were flagged down by a passer-by asking if we had a fire extinguisher.

“I tried to smash the window but my driving instructor, Tim, he was a brave man.

“He was straight in there. He didn’t think twice.

“He managed to get the door open. We all pulled him up, took him across the road, moved him to somewhere it was safe.”

Martin thinks he and Tim, as well as another Good Samaritan, managed to get the man out of the car just “one minute” before it went up in flames.

The rescue was a team effort, Martin added.

He and a lady at the scene sat with the shaken man.

“I put a blanket around him and kept talking to him,” Martin said.

“I just kept asking him how old he was, what his name was, to keep him talking.”

Hampshire Chronicle:

A post by the driving school Martin is learning with, 2 Start Training, later hailed him and his instructor Tim as "true heroes" after they discovered how they helped the man.

The post reads: "Well done to Tim and also to Tim's student, Martin. We are very proud of you both at 2 Start.

"Incidents like this show that having basic first aid skills can be invaluable, and could possibly save lives."

A spokesperson from Hampshire Fire and Rescue said they were alerted to a "road traffic collision" 1.32pm. 

Crews from Romsey and Redbridge attended the car fire which was 100 per cent damaged by the blaze and the stop message came in at 2.36pm. 

Hampshire police and South Central Ambulance Service have been contacted for comment.