Wallace resident Shawn Kennedy and Wendouree’s Josh Davis were driving to work on Bacchus Marsh-Geelong Road when they came across the smoking wreck of a vehicle and heard screams coming from its sole occupant.
Mr Kennedy, 29, and Mr Davis, 22, discovered that Darley man Paul Wilson had both legs trapped under his car dashboard.
After calling an ambulance, they worked to free him from the twisted metal.
The pair were yesterday presented with official commendations by Ambulance Victoria for rescuing Mr Wilson on August 1 last year.
Off-duty paramedic Sarah Houghton-Sims was also driving to work on August 1 when she heard the triple-0 call and rushed to help.
She instructed Mr Kennedy and Mr Davis to grab a crowbar from their car to free the trapped driver.
While the driver’s door wouldn’t budge, the pair were able to winch him out via the rear door.
Yesterday, both men were presented with official commendations from Ambulance Victoria for saving Mr Wilson.
Mr Davis recalled the scene as “overwhelming” but said the instinct to help immediately kicked in.
“I felt I had to do something,’’ he said.
‘‘I would want someone to do it for me.”
Ms Houghton-Sims praised the pair for being so quick to help.
“You don’t see many young people jump into action to help these days. They didn’t have to stop, but they did. I couldn’t do this on my own.”
Mr Wilson sustained 10 breaks in one leg, chest injuries, a split forehead and damage to his cheek and nose.
He is now recovering and hopes to start driving again soon.
