Victor D. Bustamente, 25, boiler tender, rescued Patrick M. Vahey, 23, bookkeeper, from burning, Honolulu, Hawaii, April 7, 1968. When his coupe was involved in an accident, Vahey suffered leg fractures and was pinned behind the steering wheel. Flames broke out at the rear of the automobile and then spread into the interior, where they nearly filled the rear compartment, Bustamente ran to the driver’s side of the coupe. Unable to open the door there, he ran around the front end to the other door, which he succeeded in forcing open. He extended his upper body into the front compartment. Placing his face on the seat cushion for protection from flames in the rear compartment, he took hold of Vahey and pulled him toward the open door. The heat then forced Bustamente to withdraw briefly. Keeping his face lowered, he took hold of Vahey again and removed him from behind the steering wheel. Moving back, he pulled on Vahey until the latter’s head, arms, and shoulders were through the door opening. Another man then ran to Bustamente and aided him in dragging Vahey away from the automobile. Vahey was hospitalized for extensive burns. Bustamente sustained lesser burns to his arms and head.
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