{"id":337635,"date":"2017-12-02T22:40:35","date_gmt":"2017-12-02T21:40:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/rinf.com\/alt-news\/newswire\/hero-cop-stops-overturned-van-from-falling-off-bridge-using-only-his-bare-hands-photos-rt-uk-news\/"},"modified":"2017-12-02T22:40:35","modified_gmt":"2017-12-02T21:40:35","slug":"hero-cop-stops-overturned-van-from-falling-off-bridge-using-only-his-bare-hands-photos-rt-uk-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/rinf.com\/alt-news\/newswire\/hero-cop-stops-overturned-van-from-falling-off-bridge-using-only-his-bare-hands-photos-rt-uk-news\/","title":{"rendered":"Hero cop stops overturned van from falling off bridge using only his bare hands (PHOTOS) \u2014 RT UK News"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Martin Willis, a Roads Policing Officer with West Yorkshire Police, went above and beyond the call of duty when he prevented an overturned van from falling off a bridge following a road traffic accident. <\/p>\n

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Willis, a 10-year veteran of the West Yorkshire force, received a call at approximately 5:47am local time reporting multiple collisions on the A1 motorway, according to a police statement<\/a>. Willis was the first on the scene and encountered the precariously perched Iveco van which had crashed through the safety barrier.<\/p>\n

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1st on the scene of this collision on the #A1M<\/a> this morning and faced with a vehicle balancing over the edge of a bridge with the driver trapped! After holding on to the vehicle to stop it swaying in the wind I can’t begin to desribe my relief when @WYFRS<\/a> arrived on scene! pic.twitter.com\/E8ilktlOl7<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Motorway Martin (@WYP_PCWILLIS) December 1, 2017<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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\u201cI just saw this van on top of the bridge through the railings and contacted control to say, \u2018I\u2019ve got to stop here, this looks very serious.’ I walked on the hard shoulder to the incident and I as I did so a lorry driver, who was not involved in the incident, shouted across to say there was a chap upside down in the van,\u201d<\/em> said Willis, as cited in the police statement. \u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cEvery time a lorry went by I could see the van sway and I just thought, \u2018It\u2019s right over the A64, if this van goes over it will kill the driver.’ Of course you\u2019re also thinking, \u2018Any minute now, something is going to come on the hard shoulder and hit me!’\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cI told the victim not to panic and said, \u2018We\u2019re going to get you out of there, whatever you do, don\u2019t move.’ I then grabbed hold of the rear wheel and pulled inwards which helped to keep the van balanced. I was there for a good 15 minutes, I think.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

The sole occupant of the vehicle sustained serious injuries to his legs, preventing him from escaping the van and leaving him hanging upside down in the cab. Officers from the West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service arrived shortly afterwards and used a winch to stabilize the van and rescue the 22-year-old driver, who was subsequently taken to Leeds General Infirmary for treatment.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was quite a scary situation, but this is the reality of the job we do,\u201d<\/em> Willis said. \u201cSometimes you do have to take risks and if you need to help someone, you need to help them.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n