Timothy J. Paquette saved Thomas E. Bramich, Jr., and Andrew W. Felsing from burning, Fitchburg, Massachusetts, May 27, 2004. Bramich, 32, was the pilot of a single-engine airplane that crashed on a road adjacent to an airport shortly after take-off, and Felsing, 24, was his passenger. Flames broke out on the engine, grew to about five feet high, and began to spread, and spilled fuel was in and about the craft. Paquette, 34, associate court officer, was driving on the road and witnessed the crash. He ran to the wreckage, reached his upper body inside, and grasped Bramich. As Bramich was pinned by his legs, Paquette pulled on him repeatedly to free him, then he dragged Bramich from the plane to a point of safety. Paquette returned to the plane, the interior of which had begun to burn. Again reaching inside, he grasped Felsing, who was covered with fuel. He pulled Felsing from the plane and took him to where Bramich lay. Flames then engulfed the plane. Bramich and Felsing were taken to the hospital, where they were detained for treatment of significant injuries.
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