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Dramatic rescue on A465 highway
A mother from Ebbw Vale has expressed gratitude to two strangers who saved her nine-month-old daughter from a car engulfed in flames on a busy Welsh dual carriageway.
Car catches fire with infant trapped inside
Alex McClean, 21, was driving along the A465 near Merthyr Tydfil at approximately 1:20 PM GMT on Wednesday when her vehicle suddenly lost power. Warning lights flashed before smoke filled the cabin, forcing her to pull into a lay-by.
After escaping through the driver's door, McClean discovered the rear and passenger doors were jammed. In a panic, she attempted to break a window with her keys but failed as flames began to emerge from beneath the bonnet.
"I was hysterical and had no idea what was going on. I thought I was going to lose her."
Alex McClean
Bystanders intervene as flames spread
Wesley Beynon, 39, and his uncle Marc Willding, 58, both from Merthyr Tydfil, were passing by when they spotted the burning car. Beynon recalled seeing McClean in distress, screaming that her baby was trapped inside.
Beynon forced entry through the driver's side, unclipped the infant's harness, and handed her to Willding, who pulled her to safety just moments before the vehicle was fully engulfed in flames.
"There were flames visible when we got in the car. Around 30 seconds to a minute later it was engulfed. We were in the right place at the right time."
Wesley Beynon
Emotional reunion and gratitude
The group reunited on Saturday, where McClean presented the men with gifts to thank them for their heroism. She described the pair as "real lifesavers" and vowed that her daughter, Lilah, would grow up knowing their story.
"If they weren't there, it would have been so bad-it was such a relief to get her out of the car."
Alex McClean
Heroes downplay their actions
Despite being hailed as local heroes on social media, Beynon and Willding insisted they acted on instinct. Beynon emphasized that the recognition was appreciated but unnecessary, stating they would have done the same for anyone.
"Just stop and help. You could potentially change somebody's life as we have just done."
Wesley Beynon
Lilah escaped the ordeal unharmed, and McClean said she would never forget the men's bravery.
