A hero AA worker pulled a small child from a car moments before a crash.
Paddy Healy, of the Northern Ireland AA patrol, came across a collision involving multiple vehicles on the A6 Moneynick bypass earlier this week while heading to a routine job.
The vehicles had lost control due to black ice on a 60mph (100kmh) A road.
AA said that without a thought for his own safety, Paddy protected the scene with his AA van and got the drivers and passengers up the grass bank just seconds before a further car lost control and crashed where the drivers had been standing.
Paddy continued to manage the scene by keeping people safe while awaiting the arrival of the police.
When the police arrived, they also lost control and struck the recovery truck attending the crash scene.
Paddy's final act of bravery was to free a child from a stricken car and get them safely up the bank - seconds before that car was struck from behind.
In total seven vehicles, two police cars and a recovery truck were damaged.
Paddy only left the scene once the road was closed, preventing any further crashes and continued helping AA members until the end of his shift later that evening.
Edmund King, AA president said: “AA patrols are renowned for going the extra mile to help our members, but Paddy’s heroic actions during this incident were quite extraordinary.
“Not only did he free a small child from a vehicle, moments before it was struck, but he used his experience and AA training to stay calm, manage the scene and get the drivers involved to a safe location.
“Patrols like Paddy make the AA what it is, and to say that we’re extremely proud of him, would be an understatement. Well done, Paddy.”
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