May 2009 - Driver rescued from burning van

A doctor and paramedic had to be doused with water while they treated a man for serious injuries trapped in a burning van in Berkshire.

Two passers-by unsuccessfully tried to pull the man free from the burning wreckage after the van came off the M4 near Reading and hit an electrical box.

Fire crews sprayed water over the driver and two air ambulance crewmen before the man, aged 51, was released.

He was airlifted to hospital suffering burns and fractures to his ankles.

'Good shape'

Pat Conafray, from Thames Valley and Chiltern Air Ambulance, said: "We landed the helicopter on the slip road and got as close as we could to the burning vehicle.

"Two members of the public had tried to get the man out but couldn't due his trapped legs.

"We needed to administer care so the fire service doused our guys with water as we treated him and we managed to get him out of the van.

"I think he has 10% burns but is in good shape."

Police appealed for anyone who saw the silver Ford Transit van before the crash to come forward.