Police sergeant pulls man from burning car in Coventry

A police officer has been praised for his bravery after risking his life to pull a man from a burning car in Coventry.

Sgt Rich Markham dragged the driver from the burning Mitsubishi after it collided with another vehicle in Radford Avenue, Radford, on Saturday.

The man was taken to hospital suffering from a fractured hip and pelvis and problems with his lungs.

He was later arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving.

The crash happened at about at 2320 BST.

'Act on instincts'

A woman aged in her fifties was trapped inside the second car and Sgt Markham, along with Sgt Colin Baker and Pc Duncan Markham, tried to pull her from the wreckage while waiting for ambulance crews.

They were unable to free her but she was eventually cut from the wreckage and taken to hospital suffering from serious chest and pelvic injuries.

Sgt Markham said: "For me it was just another ordinary day. As an officer you act on instinct and our instincts were to save these two people as quickly as possible."

Supt Mark Robinson, from Coventry Central police station, said he intended to recognise Sgt Markham for his bravery.

"Sgt Markham risked his life to save this man without hesitation," he said.