A MAN in Essex saved a woman’s life by pulling her from a burning car just seconds before it burst into flames.

Fire crews were called to the incident in Mersea Road in Abberton at 8.13am on Wednesday.

Sub officer Sid Barrett from Colchester Fire Station said: “Firefighters were called to an RTC involving one car.

“When the fire crews arrived they found the car upside down in a wooded area at the side of the road on fire.

“Before the firefighters had arrived at the incident, a man travelling in a car in the opposite direction stopped to help the lady involved in the accident. He went over to her car which was on fire and managed to pull her free from the vehicle, seconds before the car burst into flames. He then looked after the woman and waited for the emergency services to arrive.”

Crews wore breathing apparatus and used two hose reel jets to extinguish the fire by 8.41am.

The woman was placed in the care of the ambulance service.

East of England Ambulance Service spokesman Gary Sanderson said: “A woman who we believe to be 38-years-old received an elbow injury and thankfully she was out of the car on our arrival.

“Following treatment at the scene, she was taken to Colchester General Hospital for further care.”