Heroic Crowd Rescue Woman and Girl Trapped Under Car in Dagenham Crash
An NHS nurse has hailed the bravery and spirit of locals who came together to save a woman and her young daughter trapped beneath a car after a serious crash in Dagenham.
Crash Rocks New Road Morning
The smash happened at around 8:10am on Wednesday, April 23, near the McDonald’s on Ballards Road. A 35-year-old woman and her 10-year-old daughter were hit by a car. Emergency crews raced to the scene after urgent calls.
Police confirmed both victims suffered non-life-threatening injuries, though the girl’s injuries could be life-changing. No arrests have been made yet as investigations continue.
‘Instinct Kicked In’ – Nurse Leads Rescue
Among those who rushed to help was Luke Collins, a clinical nurse specialist from Guy’s Hospital in Southwark. Cycling to Dagenham Dock station, Collins spotted a crowd and immediately realised someone was trapped under the car.
“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. “Then when I saw this little girl, it was even more shocking. I was expecting the worst.”
With around 30 people joining forces, they struggled to lift the heavy vehicle enough to free the victims. Collins recalled, “They managed to move the car from both ends… it was quite heavy and not moving for a while.”
Calm in Chaos: Nurse Comforts Injured Girl
Using his NHS training, Collins kept a clear head amid chaos. “It was adrenaline and instinct,” he said. “I had to think clearly: what’s the plan, what do I do?” While others shifted the car, Collins focused on the injured child, talking to her and keeping her warm until emergency services arrived.
“It was heart-wrenching, but also really uplifting. People from all walks of life came together to help,” he added. “Londoners can be grumpy, but they’ll definitely come together in a crisis. There was great community spirit on display.”
Police Appeal for Witnesses
New Road was closed to traffic but has since reopened. The Met Police are urging anyone with information about the crash to come forward.
- Call police on 101 quoting reference 1334/23Apr
- Or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111
