Simon Jordan - crawled to colleague

A Shropshire firefighter crawled along the road to save the life of an unconscious colleague after a car collided with four people walking back from a pub.

Simon Jordan, 23, was too badly injured to walk but managed to get to Lee Pearsall, also 23, and prevented him choking on his own blood in Broseley High Street.

He managed to clear Mr Pearsall’s airway before emergency services arrived. Mr Pearsall was taken to Telford’s Princess Royal Hospital and airlifted to the Royal Infirmary Hospital, Stoke-on-Trent.

Mr Pearsall, of Spring Meadow, Sutton Hill, Telford, was unconscious in a critical condition. He had an emergency operation on his left arm yesterday. His condition was not immediately known today.

The pair are both part-time firefighters based at Tweedale Fire Station.

They were walking through Broseley with friends Jamie Willmore and Steve Perks after visiting the Albion pub, when all four were involved in a collision with a car at 2.30am on Saturday.

Lee Pearsall - saved

Mr Jordan, of Redfield Close, Broseley, said: “When I woke up I was in the middle of the road and Lee was in front of me – it sounded like he was snoring but I could see he was choking on his own blood.

“I couldn’t get up so I made my way over to him and cleared his airway, and it was probably a couple of minutes until he started breathing on his own. He’s one of my best mates at the station.”

Mr Pearsall’s girlfriend Nikki Harvey, 19, said: “I don’t think Lee would be here now if it wasn’t for Simon.

“Lee’s arm was shattered from his elbow down and the swelling was so bad they couldn’t operate straight away. We still don’t know if he will have use of his arm or hand.”

Detective Inspector Michael Homden, of Shrewsbury CID, said: “A man is in hospital with very serious injuries as a result of this collision.”

A 40-year-old man was due to appear at Telford Magistrates Court today on one charge of causing grievous bodily harm, three of actual bodily harm, dangerous driving and driving with excess alcohol. Police are appealing for witnesses to call them on 0300 333 3000 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

By Peter Kitchen and Peter Johnson