Saudi ‘hero’ tows burning car from petrol station

Saudi Arabia’s crown prince has honoured a man for putting his life at risk to pull a burning car out of a petrol station.

Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Nayef offered a financial reward to Rashid Al Nafii for his courage and thoughtfulness that prompted him to tow the burning car away from the station and thus avoid a tragedy in Al Zulfi, about 260 kilometres northwest of the capital Riyadh.

The general director of the civil defense in Riyadh presented the award to Al Nafii who became an instant hero on social media after a short clip of his heroism was widely circulated.

According to Saudi daily Al Jazeera, the car, owned by an Arab expatriate, was at the station for petrol when the fire broke out.

Employees tried to bring the situation under control and avert the looming catastrophe, but they failed.