Ex-firefighter saves crash driver’s life


A LEEDS Castle employee used his 30 years’ experience as a firefighter to save the life of a man trapped in a car after steering off the A20. By chance, stock controller Ian Ridgers


(53) had stopped to have a chat with a fel- low member of staff at the Broomfield Road entrance as he arrived for work one morning when he heard a bang. He rushed over to find a car buried in trees. He said: “I could see a fire in the engine


compartment and I knew it was going to spread quickly. The windows were intact and the doors were closed and the driver was pinned up against the dashboard un- able to move. “I laid him across the front passenger seat


and managed to pull him half-way out of the car. I managed to get a bystander to help carry him totally out. By the time I dragged him 5m away from the passenger door, the front of the car was engulfed in flames.” Ian, who retired from the fire service five


years ago, is convinced that the driver would have died had he not made the timely intervention. The driver, who was in his 40s, was still in hospital, suffering from multiple injuries but in a stable condition,


THE Kent Game and Equine Festival re- turns to the County Showground at Detling on the weekend of March 26/27. This event, which usually attracts more


than 8,000 visitors, will include displays by international showjumpers Graham and Tina Fletcher. The festival also hosts an indoor and out- door shopping village with more than 100


as Downs Mail went to press. Ian added: “In the fire service you nor-


mally arrive five or 10 minutes after an in- cident. In this case I was pretty much first on the scene. “I have seen hundreds of accidents and


car fires but never actually pulled anyone out of a car. Other people might have pan- icked and not known what to do, but it was lucky that I was trained in first aid and knew from experience of how a fire can


equine, country and food-related compa- nies. Other features include an on-site clay shoot, air rifle coaching, gundog scurries, terrier and lurcher shows, fly-casting demonstrations, archery, falconry, ferret racing and vintage tractors. Discounted advance tickets are available


by visiting www.contour.uk.net or calling 01749 813899.


spread. I was just in the right place at the right time.” SECAmb paramedic and clinical opera-


tions manager, Jeff Overton, said: “The quick thinking of Mr Ridgers was absolutely vital. I’m in no doubt that he saved the pa- tient’s life.”


Top showjumpers at game and equine show No to replacement home


A PROPOSAL to replace an existing house in Detling with a larger four-bedroom home has been refused. Maidstone Council felt the application for


Westfield, in ScraggedOak Road, would be sig- nificantly more visually intrusive than the dwelling it would replace, and therefore detri- mental to the character of the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.


Left: hero Ian Ridgers in the grounds of his normal workplace, Leeds Castle.


Below: the remains of the burnt-out car he found in Broomfield Road.


You can e-mail the Downs Mail—info@downsmail.co.uk


East 9


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