Two heroes who pulled a man and a woman from a blazing car were awarded for their bravery at Buckingham Palace.

The car could have exploded into a fireball at any moment in the incident in Watling Street, Elstree in June 2014.

However, John Moore, 36, and Theresa Cosgrove, 24, didn’t hesitate in recusing the couple from it.

The man, who came from Radlett, died at the scene but the woman survived – although she was badly burned.

John also had to be treated for burns to his hands and face after the incident.

On Tuesday, John and Theresa, formerly of Home Oak Park, Watford and now living in Grantham, were presented with Royal Humane Society Bronze medals and were praised as being among the country’s “bravest of the brave”.

The presentations were made by the Society’s President, Princess Alexandra, who talked to the pair about their ordeal.

Speaking after the awards Andrew Chapman, Secretary of the Royal Humane Society, said: “Any-one who approaches a blazing vehicle is taking their life in their hands. But John and Theresa didn’t hesitate. Their only thought was to try and save the man and woman who were in imminent danger of being burned to death. They are truly amongst the bravest of the brave.

“Sadly the man died but the woman, although burned, survived. The rescue was the sort of thing you see I all action movies but in this case it was real life. The actions of John and Theresa was truly selfless. These medals are rarely awarded and only for exceptional acts of bravery. In this case though the bravery was exceptional and the medals are richly deserved.”

The man who died had been riding a motorcycle and collided with a car driven by the woman as she pulled out of a drive.

The man was thrown head first into the passenger seat of the open-top car and knocked unconscious.

The motor cycle’s fuel tank ruptured in the crash and petrol sprayed all over the inside of the car and immediately caught fire.

Theresa, who was driving her car immediately behind the motorcyclist with John as a passenger, stopped immediately and rushed to the burning vehicle to try and save the victims who were unable to get out.

John opened the passenger door and with Theresa’s help managed to pull the motorcyclist out. Theresa then beat out the flames on his legs with her bare hands.

She then went back to the vehicle and attempted to pull the woman who was trapped in her seat out of the car. John returned and got into the foot-well of the vehicle and also attempted to pull the woman, whose hair was on fire, free.

Despite the intense heat he then realised that the woman was still strapped in by her seat belt. He managed to drag her out and, although badly burned she managed to run to safety.

John and Theresa then dragged the man farther away from the blazing vehicle as its tyres began to explode. They also had to beat out flames on his legs again.