An NHS nurse has praised the bravery and community spirit of dozens of passers-by who came together to rescue a woman and a young girl trapped under a car following a serious crash in Dagenham.
The incident occurred at around 8.10am on Wednesday, April 23, on New Road, near the McDonald’s on Ballards Road. Emergency services were called after reports of a collision involving two pedestrians — a 35-year-old woman and her 10-year-old daughter — who had been struck by a car.
According to the Metropolitan Police, both victims sustained non-life-threatening injuries, though the child’s injuries are believed to be potentially life-changing. No arrests have been made, and investigations are ongoing.
‘Instinct Kicked In’
Among those rushing to help was Luke Collins, a uro-oncology clinical nurse specialist at Guy’s Hospital in Southwark. Collins was cycling to Dagenham Dock station when he came across the aftermath of the crash and a growing crowd gathered around the scene.
“I saw loads of people just actively trying to move a car and I was thinking immediately, okay, someone’s trapped underneath it,” Collins said. “And then when I saw this little girl, it was even more shocking. I was expecting the worst.”
Collins described how approximately 30 people worked together to lift the vehicle enough to free the two victims. “They managed to move the car from both ends… it was quite heavy and not moving for a while,” he recalled.
Working Together to Save Lives
As an experienced nurse, Collins said his training kicked in amid the chaos. “It was adrenaline and instinct,” he said. “As the minutes passed, I grounded myself – working in the NHS, I had to think clearly: what’s the plan, what do I do?”
While others focused on shifting the vehicle, Collins turned his attention to the injured girl. “I focused on her – just making sure she was okay, talking to her, keeping her warm, and comforting her until the emergency services arrived.”
‘Heart-Wrenching and Heartwarming’
Despite the distressing nature of the accident, Collins said the community’s quick response left a powerful impression on him. “It was heart-wrenching, but also really uplifting. People from all walks of life came together to help,” he said.
“Push comes to shove, Londoners can be grumpy, but they’ll definitely come together in a crisis. There was great community spirit on display.”
Police Investigation Continues
New Road was closed following the collision and later reopened. The Met Police is appealing for witnesses to come forward.
Anyone with information is urged to contact police on 101, quoting reference 1334/23Apr, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
