A police officer from South Carolina is being hailed as a hero after pulling a man from burning car.
“The fire department said that had I not pulled him out within a minute or two, he would have perished,” said Cpl. Adam Willis told NBC affiliate WCBD.
The harrowing incident occurred on Saturday was captured on his patrol car’s dashcam.
Willis said the car was on fire when he arrived at the scene and all he could do was hope that no one was inside the vehicle.
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With the fire blazing, the officer had to use an extinguisher to even be able to see inside the car, where an unconscious 27-year-old man was sitting, arms still extended and holding onto the steering wheel.
“The only thing I was thinking in my mind was, ‘Please don’t be dead,’” Willis said. “I reached in there, grabbed a hold of his arm and I was able to pull him out.”
Willis says the man seemed to be intoxicated and claimed to have no memory of being inside the burning car. The man was treated and released for smoke inhalation.
“It’s an honour that I was a part of him having a second chance in life,” said Willis. “I’m glad that he’s OK.”
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