‘Brave’ Blackpool boys receive commendations after rescuing mum and baby following hit and run crash

A pair of Blackpool teenagers have received commendations from police after they rescued a woman and her baby from their car following a hit and run crash.
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Friends Josh Hayward-Jones,12, and Charlie Belcher, 12, were walking to Blackpool promenade along Devonshire Road when they witnessed a car crash.

A grey Volkswagen Golf and a white Peugeot 108 had collided, leaving a woman and her one-year-old daughter trapped inside the Peugeot shortly before 8pm on Monday, June 29.

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Jumping into action, the boys ran over to the smoking vehicle before pulling the mother and daughter out of the damaged car.

Josh Hayward-Jones and Charlie Belcher helped out when they witnessed a car crash on Devonshire Road.Josh Hayward-Jones and Charlie Belcher helped out when they witnessed a car crash on Devonshire Road.
Josh Hayward-Jones and Charlie Belcher helped out when they witnessed a car crash on Devonshire Road.

Josh, who lives on Mexford Avenue, said: "We were going to watch the sunset and we heard a massive bang and saw the two cars had crashed into each other.

"We ran over to the white car and got the woman out and she said her child was in the back of the car.

"Smoke had started to come from the car so we went to rescue the child but the door was stiff because of the crash so we had to really pull it hard to open it."

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The driver and a passenger of the Volkswagen fled the scene following the crash, leaving the mother, child and another adult in the Citroen.

Emergency services at the scene of the Devonshire Road crash. (Photo by Danny Cronin)Emergency services at the scene of the Devonshire Road crash. (Photo by Danny Cronin)
Emergency services at the scene of the Devonshire Road crash. (Photo by Danny Cronin)

Charlie, of Raymond Avenue, said he saw one of them run off.

He said: "We didn't spot them at first but I did see someone run off down Raymond Avenue.

"Apparently the other person ran off the opposite way but we were more worried about the other people in the crash."

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The pair, who attend Unity Academy on Warbreck Hill Road, rang 999 and waited for the emergency services to turn up.

The mother and daughter were taken to Blackpool Victoria Hospital by ambulance, but it has since been establised no one suffered any serious injuries in the collision.

Police have now confirmed the boys will be given a letter by their local policing inspector thanking them for their brave actions.

Blackpool Insp Dave Wilson said: "Charlie and Joshua acted selflessly to provide help and support to a mother and her child. It is an honour to be able to recognise their brave actions.

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"There has been negative coverage about the behaviour of some young people in the area at the moment so it is fitting that we are able to take the time to recognise the positive actions of some of our local boys."

Enquiries are ongoing into the incident.

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