Taxi Driver Online

Evening Herald (Plymouth)

May 19, 2007 Saturday

HEADLINE: 'Thank you for saving my life'

BYLINE: TRISTAN NICHOLS Herald Reporter

A hero taxi driver who kicked open the door of a Stonehouse pub to alert its sleeping occupants that it was on fire has been thanked for his efforts.

Star Cabs driver Phil Butcher was driving past The Wyndham Arms in Stoke Road last Saturday at about 2.30am when he noticed flames shooting out of the property.

Within minutes the 28-year-old from West Park was kicking and ramming the front door of the Grade II Listed pub to alert its tenants.

Phil bruised his right foot and shoulder, but his efforts helped to alert three men and a dog sleeping inside - the pub's landlord Dave Jakes, Chris Edgecombe and his dog Boz, and Tristan Barndon.

Phil said he "wouldn't hesitate" to do it again.

"The firefighters told me that had it taken another three or four minutes to raise the alarm, they would have died," he said.

"I'm just thankful I weigh 18 stone and I've got size 14 feet, because I needed it to get the door open.

"I wouldn't hesitate to do it again. We drive around all night and you just can't drive past something like that.

"I just enjoy helping people."

Dave previously told The Herald that he felt "lucky to be alive".

The 43-year-old said after meeting his rescuer: "The bizarre thing was that I already knew the guy.

"I know members of his family, so it was very surreal when he walked into say 'hello'.

"He didn't realise it was me that he was helping to save, either.

"It was quite heart-warming really, to be able to say thanks for I guess helping to save our lives."

He later joked: "I told him I would be billing him for kicking in my door."

As Phil broke down the door, another Hackney carriage taxi driver - who was passing the scene - used his mobile phone to call the fire service.

The fire ravaged the building, destroying all of the ground floor and causing damage to the upstairs rooms.

Mr Jakes has now pledged though that the pub will re-open "bigger and better".

tnichols@eveningherald.co.uk
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Copyright notice © The contents of this post are copyright of JD and are not to be reproduced outside of TDO without written permission.

That's how all ph drivers get their customers to come out to the car.

Well done to the driver is all that I can say. Let's hope any of us would ac the same - although I think some would put the meter on .........