A Shropshire father has had an emotional reunion with the man who ran to his aid after a 2,000 gallon fuel tanker crushed his car – and vowed the experience would make them friends for life.

Pete Wells was driving to work on Monday when the full force of the massive tanker, containing highly-flammable kerosene and paraffin, ended up on top of his car on a road near Bridgnorth, knocking him out.

He miraculously escaped without a scratch – thanks in no short measure to Telford Shopping Centre security guard Jonathan Childs, who quickly called emergency services and Mr Wells’s wife Sue to tell her to get to the Princess Royal Hospital.

The 31 year old also stayed with Mr Wells for more than an hour.

Mrs Wells said when she took the call she was in shock and never got the name of the caller.

But Mr Childs saw the article on the accident in the Shropshire Star and, after contacting the paper, the pair were emotionally reunited at Mr Wells’s home in Dawley, Telford, yesterday.

He said today he also had a close shave with the tanker.

“The lorry narrowly missed me and I managed to get out of the way but it must have been only about two feet from me,” he said.

“I went into a ditch and came to a standstill and it was then I heard a big bang.

“I ran up the road to help Pete and then I ran back to help the driver out.

“Then I called Pete’s wife and told her, it all happened very quickly.”

Mr Wells, 48, was knocked out by the force of the smash but otherwise escaped unharmed.

He said he had been left overwhelmed after meeting his new friend.

“It looks like I have made a friend for life here,” said Mr Wells.

“It was great to see him and thank him for what he did. For someone to stay with you when they could be in danger and decide to help is amazing.

“Jonathan stayed at the scene for an hour and a half helping the police so we had a witness, he was great.”

At the meeting, Mr Wells’ 11-year-old daughter Hollie said: “My grandad died five years ago and I think he was looking down on my dad.”

By Jason Lavan