A PENSIONER and a mystery woman risked their lives to pull a young driver out of a smoking car that had ruptured a mains gas pipe.

With the strong stench of gas in the air and smoke billowing out of the car's engine, 68-year-old Ronald Buttle dragged the helpless driver to safety with the assistance of a female passer-by.

The Ford Fiesta that was carrying the woman and two male passengers collided with a tree before hitting a gas service point in Old Reading Road in Chineham at about 7.45pm on Monday, November 20.

Diners at the nearby Chineham Indian Cuisine restaurant in Old Reading Road were told to leave their meals and move to safety, together with several local residents.

Mr Buttle, a takeaway delivery driver at the restaurant, was one of the first people on the scene.

The pensioner, who lives in Ballard Close, South Ham, Basingstoke, with his wife Sheila, said: "I heard a big bang and went outside into the car park.

"There were two blokes running around, one with a cut to his head and the other clutching his chest. There was also a young woman sitting in the driver's seat of the vehicle.

"The guy with the cut to his face was screaming for people to help rescue the girl. He was saying, I can't do it, I can't do it'."

Mr Buttle and the female passer-by rushed over to the Fiesta and attempted to open the driver's door, but it wouldn't budge. They then ran over to the other side of the vehicle where they managed to gain entry.

"I grabbed the girl by her arms and the woman grabbed hold of her trouser belt and together we yanked the driver out," said Mr Buttle. "I couldn't have got her out without the help of the woman."

Mr Buttle added that although he was concerned for his own safety, he couldn't leave the driver trapped in the car.

"I was worried about the car exploding but I just couldn't leave her in there," he said. "I was scared stiff really. The leaking gas sounded like a Bunsen burner. I wanted to get her out and then get away."

Forhad Fiddique, who works as a waiter at Chineham Indian Cuisine, praised the courage of Mr Buttle and the mystery woman.

He told The Gazette: "I was serving food when I saw a car come around the corner and crash straight into the tree and then I could hear the gas leaking.

"I called the police and ambulance service. I could hear the gas leaking and I didn't know what was going to happen. I thought it was going to explode. The gas line is linked to the restaurant, so if the gas pipe blew up, the restaurant would have too.

"All the diners had to leave the restaurant and it remained closed for the rest of the night."

All three passengers travelling in the Fiesta suffered minor injuries and were taken to Basingstoke hospital by ambulance.

Hampshire Constabulary said it is still investigating the circumstances leading up to the crash but added that no one has been arrested or charged in connection with the incident.

All three emergency services and Transco engineers attended the scene and about 20 nearby homes were evacuated for more than two hours while the gas leak was stopped and the area made safe.

Basingstoke Fire Station manager Ryan Thurman, who was among those at the scene, praised the pair of rescuers.

"The fact that they went in and helped the woman was, without a doubt, a risk. There was the possibility of an explosion or fire, which is why we evacuated the homes.

"When we are faced with a situation like that, we have to make a split-second decision and theirs was a brave call to make. All credit to them.

"It would have made our job a lot harder had we got to the scene and had to rescue people trapped in a car with a gas main blowing right behind us."

  • Are you the mystery woman who helped rescue the driver, or do you know her? Call the newsdesk on 01256 337444.