Ex-firefighter got teens out of car that overturned on M4
A FORMER firefighter rescued two teenagers from an overturned car as he waited for the emergency services to arrive.
Ian Morgan, 36, said a 15-year-old girl was left trapped after the car she was in overturned on the M4.
Police are appealing for witnesses after the white Toyota IQ2 left the carriageway, crashed into trees and overturned.
Mr Morgan, who was a firefighter in Gilfach Goch, had been travelling to the seaside on Sunday afternoon when he saw the crash which happened between junction 34 Miskin and junction 35 Pencoed.
He said: “I was travelling about a mile behind the accident and noticed the traffic had slowed down. I was with my partner and friend going to the beach. There was a young girl already out on the hard shoulder so I pulled over.
“I ran over and could see a girl was on the floor. I made my way up the banking where the car was in situ.”
After prising open the door of the car, Mr Morgan was able to remove an 18-year-old boy from the driver’s seat.
He said: “There was a young boy in at the time. I asked him where it hurt.
“He said there was a pain in his leg and I made the call to drag him out so I could gain access to the inside of the car.”
He added: “I made my way into the vehicle and the girl was slumped over so I checked her neck.
“When she came around she was frantic – she didn’t know where she was, she was in a complete state of shock. She was frightened for her head.
“As the car was overturned she was on the roof.”
Mr Morgan, who now works as a material handler for Ford engines, said he was forced to remove the girl from the car.
He said: “At this point she was getting very frantic and she wanted to get out of the car.
“I managed to calm her down and let her know I was from the fire service but she needed to get out of the car.
“It wasn’t very stable and the fire service hadn’t turned up so I called over the police officers.
“They each held her legs and I was able to get her out as they did that.”
South Wales Police said a 15-yearold girl remained in the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff with serious head and internal injuries.
An 18-year-old male driver and a 16-year-old girl, who was the front seat passenger, were also injured but police said their injuries were less serious.
Mr Morgan said: “The engine was still running, the key was still in. One of the passersby climbed over my legs to turn it off.
“It was a shock, I was a bit emotional afterwards as I’ve been away from the fire service for two years now. It was going through my head.
“You just switch into autopilot, I went back into work mode. The first port of call was to ensure she was breathing.”
A spokesman for South Wales Police said: “Persons who have not yet passed their details to the police who witnessed the collision or can provide information concerning the manner of driving of the Toyota motor car prior to the collision are asked to contact 101 quoting 1800121555.
“Police would like to thank motorists and the surrounding community for their patience due to the M4 being closed for three hours, whilst investigation work was carried out.”