Lifesaver had foot in cast

Birdie Badman is being hailed as a hero after rescuing Steve Hartshorne. Photo / Thinkstock

Emergency services are hailing as a hero a Marlborough vineyard worker with a broken foot in a cast who slid down a bank to pull a man from his car moments before it was engulfed in flames.

Birdie Badman, 31, shuffled her way down the bank and pulled Steve Hartshorne, 47, from his wrecked company car on Tuesday afternoon, the Marlborough Express reported yesterday.

Just moments before, they had passed each other driving over the Weld Pass on State Highway 1, 10km south of Blenheim.

Mrs Badman, from Seddon, saw in her rear vision mirror Mr Hartshorne's car veer off the road and roll over the barrier down a steep bank and turned back to help.

She said she did not have a chance to think about the pain in her foot.

"I just had to get the guy out of the car because I saw the flames underneath."

She was unable to walk on her broken foot, so she shuffled her way down the bank "sliding on my butt as quick as I could and forced the door open".

Mr Hartshorne was shaken and suffering neck pain. He was taken to hospital with minor injuries.

Senior Constable Robin Stocks, of Blenheim, said Mrs Badman's quick actions saved Mr Hartshorne's life and she was a hero.

- NZPA