A CARMARTHENSHIRE police officer who risked his life to save a man trapped in a burning car has been recognised for his extraordinary bravery.

PC Jonathan Tatam, 33, leapt into action following a serious road traffic collision between a car and a tractor near Cynwyl Elfed last summer. The crash left a man trapped inside a vehicle that caught fire moments after the impact.

Without hesitation, PC Tatam ran to retrieve a fire extinguisher from his patrol car and rushed back towards the blaze.

Despite the intense heat and risk of explosion, he fought the flames long enough to reach the man, whose leg was pinned beneath the dashboard.

With the fire re-igniting and time running out, he dragged the man free from the wreckage just seconds before the vehicle became fully engulfed in flames.

Speaking after receiving a bravery award at the Dyfed-Powys Police Force Awards, PC Tatam said: “Watching the body-worn footage afterwards was quite surreal. It all happened so fast.

“I remember thinking, if I don’t do something now, this person is going to die. The man’s friends were pleading with us to help and I knew I couldn’t just stand by.

“It was incredibly hot, the car was close to a hedge and there was barely any room to manoeuvre. I was worried the fire would spread.”

Thanks to his quick thinking, PC Tatam was able to suppress the flames long enough for the trapped man to dislodge his leg.

“I thought if I could get the flames away from his legs, it might give him enough strength to free himself,” he said. “He was panicking and in pain, but the relief of the fire being off him must have helped.”

“About 30 seconds after we got him out, the whole car was ablaze. It doesn’t bear thinking about what could have happened if we’d been any slower.”

Once the man was safe, PC Tatam and his colleague, PC Catrin Jones, administered first aid and cleared the scene to allow other emergency services through. He also helped carry medical equipment to the casualty from the air ambulance, which later flew the man to the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff with serious injuries including a broken femur and third-degree burns.

Reflecting on the incident, he said: “It didn’t really hit me until I got home that evening. I was grateful for the support from the force and my colleagues – especially Catrin, who was also outstanding on the day.”

PC Tatam, who only joined the police three years ago, added: “It’s lovely to be recognised so early on in my career. I never expected to be nominated, let alone win an award. I was just doing my job.”

“I’d always wanted to be a police officer and applied several times before finally getting in at 30. I joined to help others, but never expected something like this. I’m proud of the award – but even prouder that I was able to help save someone’s life.”

The bravery award, sponsored by Niche, was one of over 20 presented at the Dyfed-Powys Police Force Awards ceremony held at headquarters on Friday (July 4). PC Tatam has also been nominated for a national bravery award.

Brave officer: PC Jonathan Tatam was presented with a bravery award at police headquarters on Friday (Pic: Dyfed-Powys Police).