Amazing Video As Boy Is Pulled From Car Fire

The father of a four-year-old boy who was pulled from a burning vehicle (SUV) by off-duty firemen and neighbours has labelled those who saved his son's life as "angels".

Milwaukee firemen and brothers Joel and John Rechlitz suffered burns to their hands and forearms in the process of saving James Harper's son, David.

Mr Harper said: "I just want to thank everybody, the citizens of Milwaukee, for helping us. There are angels all around us."

The Rechlitz brothers, neighbours and off-duty policeman Mark Wroblewski reacted on Sunday when the SUV crashed into a tree and burst into flames.

Amateur video showed how the driver, Angela Baldessari, and her two-year-old daughter, Beverly, were helped out of the vehicle by about a dozen people.

However, David was trapped for a number of minutes in the van, behind a wall of flames, as those around the car become more fearful of his death.

But then the off-duty firemen - who had been directed to the accident by their wives - then used a knife to cut into the car's seat restraints and drag the boy to safety.

Joel Rechlitz said: "Five, 10 seconds made the difference between this boy living and this boy dying."

David was described as in a serious but stable condition on Tuesday at Children's Hospital of Wisconsin , having suffered third-degree burns.

But paediatric surgeon David Gourlay was optimistic and said: "I believe [David] will make a full recovery. What's challenging with burns ... is the functional, the cosmetic and the psychological recovery from that."