This is the moment a heroic lorry driver risked his own life to leap into his burning truck and steer it away from a busy high street.

Martin Ford ran to the HGV carrying £100,000 worth of furniture after smoke began rising from it.

He jumps into the cab and drives the lorry away from the narrow street in Maidstone, Kent.

And video footage shows the truck burst fully into flame as he is about to turn around a corner.

Minutes later the entire vehicle, including the cab, was engulfed by 20ft flames.


Fire crews were called to tackle the blaze, which started at 4pm on Wednesday afternoon, with stores full of Christmas shoppers.

Onlookers today hailed the quick-thinking, hero driver as truly “selfless”.

Ollie Millen, 20, who captured the blaze on film, said: “One minute the lorry was parked up on the street and the driver looked like he was unloading the furniture.

“Then suddenly there was loads of smoke and hot red flames, it just seemed to start all at once, I couldn’t understand how it happened.”

He added: “I thought he was really brave to move it, it could have exploded.

“The fire engines arrived four minutes after it was driven out of the street to safety.

“The driver got out and punched the wall, he looked angry at what had happened.

“The police arrived a little after and everyone was asked to stay back while the situation was sorted out.”

Sophie Griffin, who works at nearby Jessops store, said: “I smelled the smoke and thought it was our shop on fire. I came out and saw the lorry up in flames.”