By Mike Muncaster

Last updated at 13:11, Tuesday, 16 October 2012

A firefighter appeared on ITV1’s Daybreak this morning, after being nominated for a Pride of Britain award for his role in the tragic Keswick School bus crash aftermath.

Mike Barton

Mike Barton, who was off duty when he arrived on the accident scene and began the emergency rescue process while waiting for his colleagues to arrive.

He is in the running for the Emergency Services honour in the awards.

Mike was travelling on the A66 with his wife Bridget when he saw a car veer onto the wrong side of the road ahead of him.

It crashed into a coach, which was carrying 35 pupils, and the accident claimed the lives of 15-year-old Kieran Goulding, Chloe Walker, 16, and the car driver Patrick Short.

Mike took control of the situation and briefed the rescue crews as they arrived allowing them to begin work immediately.

He is no stranger to awards after taking Firefighter of the Year at the firefighters charity Spirit of Fire Awards in 2011.

Mike said: “I’m really honoured to have been shortlisted for such a prestigious award but in all honesty, I was just doing what any other firefighter would have done.”

Cumbria’s Chief Fire Officer Dominic Harrison said: “To have a Cumbrian firefighter nominated for the Pride of Britain award and be recognised on a national scale is fantastic and Mike is a very worthy candidate.

“His actions in the immediate aftermath of such a terrible and tragic incident were commendable and a testament to the training and skills of all our firefighters.

“I’m sure I speak for everyone else in Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service as well as myself when I say how proud we are of Mike and his colleagues.”

Keswick School’s Deputy Headteacher Tania Gibbin said: “It has been a difficult two years for the school and many of our pupils are still suffering from the effects of the accident.

“We cannot begin to imagine the effect this has had upon the families.

“Kieran and Chloe will always be in our memories.

“Thanks must be given to all the emergency services personnel and the pupils and staff who have helped and supported each other through this period.”

Mike is one of three other shortlisted finalists in The Daily Mirror’s Pride of Britain awards.

The winner will be announced at an awards ceremony hosted by TV personality Carol Vorderman on October 29 and broadcast on ITV1 the following evening.

First published at 13:05, Tuesday, 16 October 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk