Delivery drivers honoured for rescuing family

Two delivery drivers who rescued a mother and her young children from a sinking car have been honoured for their bravery.

Neil Gill and Stephen Earlston were part way through their delivery route near Bramcote, in Warwickshire, on 5 March 2025 when they noticed someone waving them down, Warwickshire Police said.

The white goods delivery drivers soon spotted an overturned car in a lake, beginning to sink.

"It's a bit of a blur," Gill recalled. "Steve shouted for me to stop, and when we got out we saw the car upside down in the water. We could see people inside."

Gill entered the lake while friend and colleague Earlston stayed on the bank to help pull the occupants to safety. Working together, they managed to rescue a mother and her two children before emergency services arrived.

Police said the pair's quick actions were "instrumental" in preventing a tragedy.

After the rescue, the delivery drivers simple continued their route, but have now received a chief constable's commendation for their actions.

It is not the first time Gill has intervened in an emergency. On a previous round, he forced open the door of an elderly customer who had collapsed inside her home.

Speaking after the ceremony, he said: "We're just glad everyone was okay. It's not the sort of thing you expect on a normal shift, but you do what you can."

Presenting the award, the chief constable praised the pair's courage and public spirit, describing their actions as an "example of the very best of our community".

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