Skip to content

Jet wash hero who saved the day in M25 fire drama

Ellie Cleverleyand
Stuart Rust,South of England
News imageJack McDermott Jack McDermott, a man with a shaved head and short beard, smiles into the camera. He's wearing a black jacket with a high collar. Jack McDermott
Jack McDermott was driving into London for work when he saw Hannah James's car on fire in the hard shoulder

A jet wash operator has been called a "hero" after he came to the rescue of a woman whose car burst into flames on a motorway.

Hannah James was on the M25 near Heathrow on the morning of 26 January when her Audi lost power and a fire broke out in its engine.

Jack McDermott, who runs a jet wash business in Weymouth, Dorset, pulled over within seconds to help and extinguished the blaze.

James said: "I was like: 'Are you from the fire brigade? Has it happened that quickly?' And he was like: "No, I'm just a man with a jet wash'."

Hannah James was on the M25 near Heathrow on the morning of 26 January when her Audi suddenly lost power

"All of a sudden I lost power. I had no brakes. No lights came up on my car or anything," said James, from Woking in Surrey.

"I managed to get over to the hard shoulder and roll to a stop. Smoke was coming from the front.

"I ran out of the car and opened the bonnet and flames came bursting out of the engine, so then I really panicked and called 999."

Moments later, McDermott, who was travelling into London for work, pulled over and used his jet wash to tackle the fire.

James said she would be "eternally grateful" to him for his help.

McDermott, who was travelling into London for work, pulled over and used his jet wash to tackle the fire

After dealing with the fire, McDermott stayed with James until the fire service arrived.

His equipment continued to prove useful, with the crew using it to cool the car's engine.

"I felt like I was in a position where I could help. I knew I had some water in my tank in the van. I knew I had the equipment to do so. I didn't hesitate. I just did it," McDermott said.

"When I started up my jet washing business I knew that I'd be doing roof cleaning, gutter cleaning, buildings, driveways.

"I didn't think I'd ever be jet washing a car that's on fire on the motorway."

News imageJack McDermott A black Audi pulled into a motorway layby is facing the camera head on. It's bonnet is lifted and smoke is pouring out. A jet wash is spraying a stream of water in the direction of the car. To the left, traffic can be seen passing by.Jack McDermott
Jack McDermott, who runs a jet wash business in Weymouth, was able to extinguish the blaze before firefighters arrived

In a direct message to McDermott, James said: "I am eternally grateful and you deserve all the good karma in the world after helping me. You are my hero."

Though the car was badly damaged, expensive horse-riding equipment belonging to James's daughter was saved.

James said her car had had its MOT a week earlier and that she had paid a "substantial amount of money" to ensure it passed.

The vehicle is currently with her insurance company who are investigating the cause of the problem.

You can follow BBC Dorset on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.

More on this story