A pair of heroic police officers who risked their lives to save a trapped driver from a burning car have been nominated for the National Police Bravery Awards 2025.

In July 2023, a run of the mill vehicle stop turned into a high-speed pursuit led by Warwickshire PCs Mateusz Dabrowski and Dominic Strange, which took a turn when the suspect’s vehicle crashed, caught fire, and trapped its unresponsive driver.

The pursuit came to a violent end when the suspect vehicle collided with another car, resulting in serious damage to both vehicles. The impact left the car wedged in a hedgerow, blocking access to both front doors and trapping the unresponsive driver inside. As flames began to consume the vehicle, the two officers sprang into action.

PC Strange was the first to approach the burning car, gaining entry through the rear doors. He immediately attempted to remove the headrests from the driver’s and front passenger’s seats in an effort to reach the casualty. At the same time, PC Dabrowski used a fire extinguisher in a desperate bid to control the spreading flames.

However, thick smoke quickly filled the interior, making it difficult to breathe or see. Struggling for air, PC Strange began to choke but refused to abandon his efforts. In minutes, the smoke had intensified, and visibility inside the vehicle was almost zero. Amid the chaos, PC Strange shouted to PC Dabrowski, "I can't get his seatbelt, mate. I can't see a thing”. Recognising the dire situation, PC Dabrowski urgently radioed the control room:

"Five one, we can't get him out of the vehicle, he's trapped. He's got a seatbelt on, vehicle on fire. We're really struggling. At the moment he's not conscious, he's not breathing, he's not responding to us, boss. The vehicle with the fire, it's too big. I can't get through, the fire's massive."

The officers knew they had only moments to act before the fire fully engulfed the car. Together they managed to pull the unresponsive driver from the front seat to the rear, inching him towards the rear left door.

After several minutes, the officers successfully extracted the casualty and immediately began CPR outside the vehicle. Just seconds later, an explosion rocked the scene—the car had become engulfed, confirming how perilously close they had been to disaster.

Over the course of four gruelling minutes, PC Strange and PC Dabrowski risked everything to rescue the driver from a seemingly impossible situation. Their courage and determination were later acknowledged by both the public and their colleagues in the force.

Upon viewing the body-worn video footage of the dramatic rescue, the casualty’s family expressed deep gratitude towards the officers. In the summer of 2024, PC Dabrowski and PC Strange met with the casualty’s daughter and mother, who embraced them in an emotional display of thanks for their heroism.

The officers' actions were widely commended by officials and senior officers. Simon Payne, chair of the Warwickshire Police Federation, said:

"Bravery, professionalism, and a refusal to give up. Dominic and Mateusz risked their lives over several minutes in trying to rescue a casualty from a car engulfed in flames. Having viewed the Body Worn Video footage of the officers inside the burning car, I can say without doubt it’s one of the bravest things I have witnessed in policing."

Echoing this sentiment, Chief Constable Alex Franklin-Smith remarked:

"This was an act of bravery of the highest degree. Less than a minute after PC Dabrowski and PC Strange dragged the casualty out of that car, it exploded. Though they knew this was likely to happen, they certainly had no way of knowing when it would happen – and so every second they remained in that car is an act of bravery without equal.

“I know I speak for the entire force when I say how immensely proud we are of PC Dabrowski and PC Strange. They exemplify all that’s good in policing, and I hope they both take pride in what they did for the rest of their lives."

IOPC Director Derrick Campbell said:

“Excellent work by police officers in challenging circumstances can often go unrecognised. We support these two officers being put forward for an award and recognise the bravery and courage they showed in the face of what was an extremely dangerous situation."   

PC Mateusz Dabrowski and PC Dominic Strange displayed extraordinary heroism, embodying the very best of policing. Their courage under pressure and their actions will forever be remembered as an inspiring testament to duty and selflessness.