Pictures: Shropshire students witness live 'rescue'
Dramatic scenes unfolded before 300 students as they watched a crash victim being rescued from the wreckage of a car.
But it was all part of a road safety education event staged by firefighters at Harper Adams University in Newport. Firefighters removed the roof and windows of an old Saab car using cutting equipment during the display.
Bosses at Shropshire Fire and Rescue said the exercise on Thursday night was aimed at showing those aged 18 to 25 what happens in a real road traffic collision.
Martin Richardson, crew manager at Newport fire station, commentated for students as eight firefighters carried out the mock-up rescue effort.
He said: "We want to bring it home to them that a number of road traffic collisions we attend involve that age group.
"A car can be a very dangerous machine when handled irresponsibly."
He said excess speed, misuse of alcohol and drugs, peer pressure, mobile phones and poor car maintenance were the main reasons behind the high number of crashes among men in the 17 to 29 age group.
"I explained what was happening during the extrication and went through the causes of how people get into that situation and how to prevent it happening," said Mr Richardson, who has held the demo at Harper Adams for a number of years.
Joana da Silva, from Harper Adams University, said: "This is a very successful and well-attended event which helps the university in raising awareness of factors contributing to dangerous driving and other associated risks."
