Crash victim praises Yate man's 'incredible bravery'
The driver who was rescued by a Yate man after her car skidded off a bridge and into a freezing river has praised his ''incredible bravery''.
Bozena Krupka, aged 44, said Paul Wiltshire's selfless actions were ''indescribably amazing''.
As reported by the Bristol Post yesterday, Mr Wiltshire, of Tyndale Avenue, Yate, leapt into the raging torrent after spotting the crumpled wreckage of a car floating on its roof.
The father-of-three, wearing just a t-shirt and jeans, jumped off the bridge into the icy water and said he ‘‘waded like a madman” towards the sinking vehicle.
The 45-year-old managed to reach Mrs Krupka, who was tapping and ‘‘clawing desperately‘’ on the window for help before smashing one of the windows and grabbing her hand until a police officer arrived and dived in to join the rescue.
The pair finally freed Mrs Krupka, a chef who works at Grist Group in Devizes, to safety.
She was rushed to the Royal United Hospital in Bath by ambulance and has since made a complete recovery.
The Polish-born mother-of-two, who lives with husband Jurzy in West Lavington, Wiltshire, said: “I am eternally grateful to Paul for what he did for me that day.
“I would have probably died if it wasn't for his incredible bravery, which was indescribably amazing given the dangers he faced.
“I'd also like to thank Pc Tom Kinderman for his courage and help with the rescue effort.”
Mrs Krupka was driving her boss Nigel Grist’s Jaguar S-Type car at the time of the accident.
Mr Grist said: “Bozena was thankfully able to return to work on Monday and we are all grateful to those who helped save her.
“The Jaguar was in a rather worse condition.”
5 Comments
by StinkBomb, Bristol
Wednesday, March 11 2009, 5:38PM
“Mark B, why don't you read Mike B's comment again? He's not quibbling with it being a heroic act. Just the BEP's sensationalist reporting. I have to say I agree with him. Obviously it was a dangerous situation, but that car is clearly not sinking!”
by Mark B, Bristol
Wednesday, March 11 2009, 5:21PM
“Regardless of what sadman Mike B says, this a still an act of unselfish bravery. Why you feel you have to belittle it says more about you Mike B, you sorry little person.”
by Martin, Clifton
Wednesday, March 11 2009, 1:50PM
“What a nice up lifting story.
People should know that when it gets really cold, bridges are often the first places to get icy, and the last to thaw out. So an otherwise ice free road could turn into sheet ice at a bridge.”
by Stella, Yate
Wednesday, March 11 2009, 10:10AM
“Well done.”
by Mike B, Bristol
Wednesday, March 11 2009, 8:30AM
“This is a lovely story that worked out very well for both the driver and the rescuers, given the circumstances . . .For me the article was spoilt once again by the BEP's reporter finding it necessary to exaggerate to give the story 'extra impact' which it did not require anyway . . . such as the line . . "raging torrent after spotting the crumpled wreckage of a car floating on its roof."
It wasn't a 'raging torrent' . . It was a stream.
It wasn't "crumpled wreckage" . . It was a car upside-down with a little damage.
It wasn't "floating" on its roof . . The water is so shallow, it's resting on its roof.”