ABA Brave Youth Of The Year 2010

Andrew Samsonidis

Citation:

Mr Andrew SAMPSONIDIS, Vic

In the early hours of 15 April 2007, Mr Sampsonidis rescued a man from a burning vehicle at Wantirna, Victoria.

Mr Sampsonidis was one of four people in a vehicle which was involved in a single vehicle accident. The car swerved and rolled, catching alight. The driver climbed free and left the scene while Mr Sampsonidis and another passenger tried to escape from the back seat. Dazed and confused, they crawled over to the driver’s side window and got away from the vehicle. However the front seat passenger was trapped, pinned in the seat as his legs began to be burned by the under dashboard fire. Despite the shock of the accident and the danger of an explosion, Mr Sampsonidis returned to free his friend from the burning car. The windscreen had blown out in the collision, enabling him to pull the victim forward through the opening and carry him to safety. Within minutes of rescuing his companion, the vehicle exploded.

For his actions, Mr Sampsonidis is commended for brave conduct.