A father has spoken of his terror as he and his family were rescued from a blazing car after a Highland holiday almost turned to tragedy.
Matt Rigby was taking his three young sons on a trip to Inverness from his home in Liverpool when they were involved in an accident on the A9.
The family’s Vauxhall Zafira burst into flames at the scene at Ralia, with Mr Rigby incapacitated and two of the three boys still in the vehicle.
His eldest son was airlifted to hospital and the rest followed by road – but the father-of-three is convinced things would have been much worse without the help of his Good Samaritans.
And now, safe in the knowledge that everyone is on the mend, he has come forward to thank the passing motorists who risked themselves to help his family.
The 41-year-old said: “My memory is a little hazy – it was just panic. The world does go into slow motion.
“Some people had run over saying that the car was on fire and they ushered myself and Miles away and I think some others got James and Felix out of the car.
“I have no idea who any of these people are but I am so grateful.”
Mr Rigby was on a Highland break and in the car with his sons Miles, aged six, James, eight and Felix, four, when the collision with a Land Rover happened on Saturday, August 26.
Mr Rigby described how he remembered an airbag hitting his head, then found himself kneeling on the ground outside the car.
Mr Rigby sufferred from a bruised stomach, chest and left knee. James received stitches in his stomach from the laceration from the seatbelt, while Miles had bruising and a nose bleed. Felix was unhurt.
James was airlifted to Raigmore Hospital with a laceration to his stomach, with the rest of the family following by road.
Mr Rigby added: “The other three of us were lying on the side of the road being treated by other people. A paediatric doctor who was on holiday arrived on the scene. She was just passing. We were very lucky.
“I’d like to thank the locals, tourists and emergency services for their kindness and help that afternoon.
“The people who helped my children from the car whilst it was on fire have helped prevent a far more serious incident. Despite having an immense area to cover the emergency services at the scene and staff at Raigmore were immensely caring and professional, helping us on our way to recovery.
“I’ll be forever grateful to everyone for helping us and we hope to return to visit Scotland in the near future.”
Raanan Levy Yariv, from Israel, appeared at Inverness Sheriff Court last week and admitted careless driving. He was fined £400 and banned from UK roads for six months.
