AWARD FOR ‘TRUE HERO’ WHO TRIED TO SAVE CRASH VICTIM
Robert smashed window to reach OAP
A LORRY driver who put his life on the line in a bid to try and save a motorist from the wreckage of a burning car has been hailed a ‘true hero’.
Robert Kirk, 48, smashed a window with his fist before using ‘brute force’ to bend a buckled door, get to a trapped pensioner and pull him free.
Mr Kirk, also a Regimental Sgt Major Instructor with the Army Cadet Force, has now been awarded one of the country’s top bravery honours for his fight to save the 81-year-old driver.
The accident happened on the morning of January 19 on Leek Road in Cellarhead.
Retired bus driver Bernard
Hopwood, of Wilton Avenue, Werrington, had been driving but appeared not to notice a tractor that had pulled up in the road with mechanical problems.
Mr Hopwood’s Ford Focus ploughed straight into the tractor’s trailer.
Mr Kirk was driving behind in his
HGV and saw what had happened. He realised the driver had to be freed from the car at once to save him from the flames.
Ignoring the obvious danger to himself – and the possibility there could be an explosion – he went to the car, smashed the driver’s window and then managed to bend back the damaged door sufficiently to pull Mr Hopwood free.
He then administered first aid on the spot until paramedics arrived. Sadly, despite all their efforts, Mr Hopwood was confirmed dead at the scene. In recognition of his bravery, Mr Kirk has been awarded a Royal Humane Society Testimonial on Parchment. He also won the personal praise of Andrew Chapman, secretary.
Mr Chapman said: “He ignored the danger to himself to go and try and rescue the driver from the wreck.
“It was an incredibly dangerous situation.
“Sadly the driver did not survive but without doubt Mr Kirk was a true hero and richly deserves the award he is to receive.”