A MAN has been hailed a hero after pulling a woman from a burning car minutes before it exploded.

Ian Gallagher, 49, from Thurrock, crossed the busy unlit carriageway of the M3 to get to the injured woman trapped in her Vauxhall Corsa.

Mr Gallacher, of Kirkham Road, Horndon, was on his way home from a music gig in Surrey, when he spotted the burning car in the early hours of Saturday.

He said: “I pulled onto the hard shoulder and crossed the road to get to the woman. Lorries going past at 80 or 90 miles per hour, I was nearly blown out of the carriageway.

“When I reached the car, I saw a woman lying over the wheel. I knew from the size of the flames the carwas probably going to explode, so I opened the driver’s side door and dragged her out.

“As I was pulling her along the grassy verge to safety the car exploded. The flames reached across all three lanes of the motorway.”

Mr Gallagher stayed with the 26-year-old woman, whose name he doesn’t know, until she was taken away by ambulance.

Sgt Phil Dix, of Surrey Police, said: “Had it not been for the quick actions and bravery of the passing motorist, the driver of the Corsa would have suffered serious injuries.”