A FATHER whose quick-thinking and bravery helped to save the life of a motorist whose car had careered over a cliff edge has been recognised for his actions.

Nigel Beevis put all thoughts for his own safety to one side when he rushed towards the car which was perched ten feet down the 150ft high cliff side in Whitby.

The 42-year-old from Redcar was enjoying a holiday with his wife, Mags, and son, Greg, when the drama unfolded last October.

The tanker driver was enjoying a peaceful half-term break at the Whitby Holiday Park at Saltwick Bay when his bravery was unexpectedly called into action.

He said: “I didn’t really think about myself at the time. I just thought I’ve got to get him out of the car. I said to him ‘one wrong move and you’ve gone’.

“He climbed up over the passenger door and fell onto his back on the grass. I put my hand on his chest and said ‘you’re staying where you are’.”

Mr Beevis and another man who helped in the rescue, Graham Smith-Scott, from Oldham, Manchester, have since been presented with Royal Humane Society testimonials on parchment for their fight to save the driver and keep others on the beach below safe.

The pair were nominated for award by Mr Smith-Scott’s daughter, Dominie, who witnessed the heart-stopping drama and decided their bravery deserved recognition.

She said: “The car drove straight across the grass in front of us and off the edge of the cliff.

“It was horrifying. It happened in what seemed like slow motion. It just broke through the fence and flew upwards into the air. There was no sound, no horn, no screech sound, just the sound of breaking wood like tree branches breaking.”

She added : “This is something I know I will never see happen again in my life. I am just thankful for Nigel, for my family, for everyone else involved and for the man himself, that it wasn’t the inevitable outcome we all envisaged it was going to be.”

Speaking about the nomination, Mr Beevis said: “I’m proud of it. I’m proud that another family has taken the time to put me forward for it. I didn’t go looking for it but just reacted. It was something I had to do, there was a man struggling.

“With the engine running and smoke coming out of the car we didn’t know if it was going to go up in flames.”

The award was presented by Mayor of Redcar Barry Hunt at a ceremony in the town on Wednesday.

Royal Humane Society secretary Dick Wilkinson praised the pair’s bravery when he announced the award.

He said: “This was a horrific incident and could so easily have ended with the death of the driver and others on the beach below the cliffs.

“Thankfully the car lodged on the ledge and the driver was able to be freed from the vehicle. And thankfully Mr Smith-Scott had the foresight to realise that people on the beach below could be in danger if the car fell and rushed down there to clear the beach.”