A off-duty Alnwick/Haldimand Township firefighter humbly says he was in the right place at the right time after saving a man’s life on Monday, January 6, 2020.
Thirty-seven-year-old Matt Dickison and his wife Michelle were on their way home when they spotted a vehicle in the ditch north of Grafton on County Road 23 shortly before midnight.
Dickison got out of his vehicle and shortly after the vehicle in the ditch erupted in flames with a unresponsive man inside.
Dickison not only pulled the man from the burning vehicle, but went back to rescue the man’s dog.
The drama began just after they had passed Academy Hill Road on County Road 23 (Lyle Street).
“I happened to see a car in the ditch just as we passed it,” recalled Dickson speaking to Today’s Northumberland.
When the couple stopped, Dickison got out to see if the driver needed assistance and immediately he could hear the throttle on the car in the ditch was “fully pinned.”
“You could hear the stones flying off our car.”
When Dickison approached the vehicle he could see a unresponsive male in the driver’s seat.
The doors were locked, but the window was open enough that there was enough room for him to stick his arm in to unlock the door.
“Just as I got in, the car caught fire. So I ran back to my car and told my wife to call 9-1-1. Then I ran back to the car. Got the man upright and unbuckled him. Just as I unbuckled him, the whole car caught on fire.”
That’s when Dickison said he had the “oh crap” moment.
“I thought I need to get moving quick.”
“I was just yanking on a 180 pounds of dead weight.
After he struggled to get the driver out, Dickison said the driver seemed to be more aware of what was happening because of the cold air.
“I knew there was nobody else in the car, but he mentioned about his dog after I got him out.”
Dickson went back inside the burning car and rescued the small Husky from the back.
“Fire was everywhere. It was fully involved.”
Dickison has been an Alnwick/Haldimand Township firefighter for just over a year.
At that time of night, he said there are very few vehicles travelling on the road.
“He wouldn’t have survived if we weren’t passing by. We were in the right place at the right moment.”
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
