A man who risked his life to pull an unconscious driver from a burning ute just moments before it erupted into a deadly fireball is being hailed as a hero.
Michael Van Baast was travelling between Cootamundra and Wallendbeen in the NSW Riverina at the weekend when he came across the horror crash.
Inside the ute was Jacob Prosser, 22, who was unconscious and had both legs trapped after smashing into a tree.
Mr Van Baast ran towards the burning vehicle before desperately working to pull the driver through a window as flames leapt towards him from under the bonnet.
He then dragged Mr Prosser to safety as the ute was engulfed in flames.
Michael Van Baast stands in front of his care after he saved a man from aburning car. (Image grab from Dash Cam Owners Australia on Facebook) Source: Dash Cam Owners Australia Facebook
"He is a hero, most definitely. He has put his life at risk to save someone else's life," Inspector Mal Sutherland from Cootamundra police told AAP on Wednesday.
Things could have been much different if Mr Van Baast hadn't acted with such bravery or had he arrived at the scene just moments later.
"If he would have delayed his actions it would have been catastrophic," Inspector Sutherland said.
Mr Van Baast not only saved Mr Prosser's life but spared first responders from arriving at a potentially traumatic scene.
"He has done a tremendous amount of good," Inspector Sutherland said.
"He (Mr Prosser) has got to thank his lucky stars that brave gentleman was driving past."
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