UK Edition
Two teenagers owe their lives to a pair of police officers who pulled them out of a blazing car in Milwaukee.
Officers Nicholas Schlei and Nicholas Reid acted swiftly when they saw a 1999 Pontiac Grand Am hurtle into a utility pole before overturning.
Within seconds flames poured out from under the bonnet. With temperatures plunging way below freezing the officers who were not wearing gloves acted swiftly.
The dramatic rescue was captured on police bodycam video.
They succeeded in pulling out the 16-year-old driver and another teenager who was unconscious in the back seat. A third boy escaped, having kicked out a car window.
"The flames, by the time I got out there, were too big for a fire extinguisher," Officer Reid said at a news conference on Wednesday, "We knew that we had to get those kids out."
"I knew the car had the potential to become engulfed but at the time that's not what we were thinking," Officer Shiel added as he described they were able to pull the boys out in less than 60 seconds.
"It feels like a lot longer when you're doing it though."
All three teenagers received hospital treatment and the driver has been charged with failure to yield and reckless driving.
The 23-year-old officers, known as “The Nick Squad” have been nominated for the Milwaukee Police Department Merit Award, the Journal Sentinel reported.