A MAN who helped lift a car to rescue a trapped female cyclist said he was not a hero for his quick-thinking actions.

But emergency services praised members of the public who rushed to haul up the blue Ford B-Max to free the woman, who was left stuck under the vehicle after a collision in New Inn Hall Street just after noon yesterday.

Father-of-two Matthew Horwood was one of those who did not give a second’s thought before helping at the scene outside Java&Co coffee shop.

He said: “People were coming up shaking my hand saying I was a hero, I’m not. I just did what was needed, to get the car off her.

“I just did what someone else would do. I would do the same for anyone; my wife, you, Joe Bloggs down the road.

“I hope she is okay and I’m glad she is with the best people now.”

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The scene of the accident

Mr Horwood was in the Games Workshop next door when the incident happened. He said “I heard a crash and screaming.

“I ran out and saw the car on top of her and about five of us began to lift it up.

“I was just thinking, ‘get the car off her, get the car off her now’. People were just standing there taking pictures doing nothing and I just had to do something.”

South Central Ambulance Service said the quick actions of Mr Horwood and others allowed paramedics to provide vital treatment before she was taken to the John Radcliffe Hospital, Headington, with serious leg injuries.

Spokeswoman Michelle Archer said they received a call at 12.09pm to George Street and New Inn Hall Street. She added: “SCAS would like to thank those members of the public who came out of local shops and were in the street at the time of the collision.”

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Mehmet Yildirim  

The amazing effort was captured on film by Mehmet Yildirim, who was upstairs at the coffee shop at the time. He said: “It was like a big earthquake - it was a terrible shake. I put my head out of the window and saw the women lying there, next to her bike.

“Some people lifted the car off her before the ambulance and police turned up.”

Kevin Brown, from Summertown, also helped free the cyclist.

He said: “I was walking by. I didn’t see it happen but there was a women underneath the car.

“I was one bloke of about 20 who got the car and started lifting it up.

“We managed to lift it up and pull her out.

“Then we were waiting for the emergency services to arrive. It all happened so quickly. I was just walking by.”

Jamie Pavlibeyi, 27, from Witney, was in O’Neill’s with his father and also helped lift the car.

He said: “I heard the crash and just ran out of the pub and helped lift it. There was just a big crash and I could hear screaming.”

Owner of Java&Co Oxford Andrew Bowen said it looked like the car had been in reverse when it collided with a woman on a bike.

Mr Bowen added: “I was not here when it happened, I was on my way from Abingdon when I received the call.

“[The lady] may have a broken leg. We are all a bit shaken up.

“We also feel as sorry for the people involved and I feel for everyone here. I hope the lady is okay.”

The coffee shop’s window was smashed as a result of the crash, but re-opened at about 3.30pm.