Father pulled girl from the flames
Michael Thorpe says his life would not be the same if his efforts to help save a teenager from a burning car had been in vain.
The father from Peaceful Bay was on the way home from a birthday party with his family on February 25, 2012, when they were confronted by burning wreckage on the Kwinana Freeway at midnight.
Trapped in the car, which was only minutes away from exploding, was 16-year-old Rachel Goad, who was rescued by her brother Daniel and Mr Thorpe, who made the split-second decision to risk his life and jump into the burning car.
Mr Goad was the driver of the car, which had been run off the road by another driver and smashed into the central concrete barrier.
"I managed to get in the back and kick the front seat as hard as I could and Daniel was pulling at her at the same time," Mr Thorpe said
Their efforts resulted in her legs being freed and she was dragged away before the car exploded.
Mr Thorpe's bravery was recognised last Friday when he was presented with a bronze medal at the Royal Humane Society of Australasia's annual awards presentation at Government House.
The father, who received the medal from WA Governor Kerry Sanderson in the presence of his family, including wife Dee-Anne and children Kyle and Ebony, said he was humbled and happy Rachel had recovered after suffering a broken leg, fractured pelvis and burns.
"It could have been us, if we were a minute earlier or minute later things could have been completely different, we could have been the family that were hit by that car," he said. "All I am happy for is that the girl can now play basketball. When she came to, all she wanted to know is if she could walk."
Revisiting the crash on Friday before receiving the medal, Mr Thorpe said he could still smell the burning car three years on. "My mind went blank and we just had to get that girl out - I would be a different person if she didn't make it," he said.
"I'm thinking about it now and gee, I was mad to do it.
"Thankfully Dee was there to give me a hand and she helped me through it. If she wasn't there I don't know, it would have been really hard.
"We got there at the right time at the right spot."
