Flood hero who rescued submerged car driver nominated for Pride of Britain award
Brave pub landlord didn't hesitate to wade out into dangerous freezing waters and carry woman from submerged car to safety after she was trapped for two and a half hours
A courageous publican who braved icy January flood water and carried a woman to safety from her submerged car has been nominated for a Pride of Britain Outstanding Bravery award.
Ignoring any personal danger, Cimi Kazazi, whose flooded gastropub, as well as surrounding houses in Great Glen, Leicestershire, were devastated by the deluge, waded out to the 63-year-old woman - who was trapped in her car close to death - and saved her life.
Yet he was speechless when he heard that, from thousands of life-saving champions, he had been nominated by a member of the public for this year's Outstanding Bravery category at Daily Mirror Pride of Britain Awards with P&O Cruises.
The modest hero told The Mirror: 'Wow, I'm honoured. But I must tell you, it was the lady next to my office who first noticed the person trapped in the car, and she shouted, 'Jimmy, Jimmy, somebody needs help'.'
Alerted to the floods in the early hours on Monday January 6 by a neighbour, Mr Kazazi had been making sure people staying in his pub were safe, when he plunged into the swirling flood water to save the stranded woman.
'I didn't know at the time, but the driver had already been trapped there for two and a half hours in the dark, and she told me that another 15 minutes and she would have passed out from hypothermia,' he said.
He had gone to the pub after a neighbour called him at home to tell him the ground floor was under water.
READ MORE: Pride of Britain launches with huge party as Florrie Bark shares hope for future
'I was worried as we had people staying upstairs in the pub, so I needed to go and check the power was off and that they were safe,' he said.
'But when I arrived at 5.30am, it was still dark and raining and snowing at the same time. The water must have been -5 degrees. It was freezing and my legs felt paralysed.'
Twice he waded into the water to get to his property and help people. It was getting light and he was changing into dry clothes in his office when the trapped driver was spotted.
He recalled: 'I was drying myself when I heard my name called, so I just went… boom… straight away. I didn't think about how I was going to get her out. And also, when I went back into the water for the third time, I didn't feel the cold.'
The rising water levels meant the stranded car was dangerously close to being submerged.
'I didn't think about it at the time, but I couldn't see what was under the water,' he said. 'Not only was it freezing, but heavy benches had been completely moved by torrents of water. They were twisted like there had been a tornado.
'But I kept going and when I got to the car, the lady looked at me with disbelief because the water was nearly to the top of the glass. She opened her car door and I just lifted her up and took her back to the pub.'
READ MORE: Brave mums fighting scandal 'bigger than thalidomide' land Pride of Britain nomination
Upstairs, on the top floor of the pub, Mr Kazazi and some of the people staying there, helped to get her warm. 'We had spare radiators in case the hotel rooms lost power, so we surrounded her with radiators and hot drinks and food and waited for help,' he said.
'But emergency rescue services couldn't come with boats until the water had subsided by 9am, so I know the water must have been very dangerous.
'And when I was told another 15 minutes and she would have died, that's when I felt proud.'
The rescued woman showed her thanks by visiting the flood rescuers and bringing food for 30-40 volunteers.
Mr Kazazi was grateful for all the help his business was given. 'We had hundreds of people come and help clean up, and we opened our doors again to business after 11 days,' he said.
'I'm embarrassed, because now I have customers clapping me and postcards from all over the world congratulating me.'
Previous awards in this category have gone to mum Emily Greenwood, who swam out into dangerous riptides to save a boy and a man. And, the previous year, lorry driver John Rastrick pulled a woman from a burning car seconds before it exploded on the motorway.
Do you know a brave hero who has saved someone's life without a thought for their own? If you do, please consider nominating them for a Pride of Britain award.
How to nominate
Brave heroes are at the heart of Pride of Britain, and over the past 26 years, some truly dedicated courageous people have inspired the nation.
If you know a hero who deserves an award, like the previous winners on this page, you can nominate them for:
EMERGENCY SERVICES AWARD
For police, fire, ambulance, paramedics or air, sea or mountain rescue who have gone beyond the call of duty.
OUTSTANDING BRAVERY
For adults who risk their own safety to help others who are in danger.
The Pride of Britain team will consider every nomination, before compiling a shortlist for the judging panel. Nominate now at prideofbritain.com
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
14 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Met Office warns of flooding and damage to buildings today despite 32C heatwave
The weather may change abruptly in your area today and on Sunday, so much so that around 20mm of rain will fall in just a few hours across parts of Lancashire, the Met Office says Some regions should prepare for flooding today - despite the scorching 32C heatwave, forecasters say. A yellow weather warning for thunderstorms blankets large swathes of England as a band of low pressure will abruptly end the sunny spell. Although temperatures peaked at 32C on Thursday in west London, today's picture will be a mixed bag - and it is largely a north-south divide. Sweltering highs of 33C are anticipated in and around London but it will be cooler - and wetter - across northern regions. With the drop in temperatures will come rain, heaviest over Merseyside, Lancashire and Cumbria. These areas, in addition to several others, are subject to the weather warning for storms which, like last Saturday's alert, is in place because of significant hazards. "There is a small chance that homes and businesses could be flooded quickly, with damage to some buildings from floodwater, lightning strikes, hail or strong winds... There is a slight chance that power cuts could occur and other services to some homes and businesses could be lost," the Met Office website reads. The storms will be scattered from around 3pm and linger throughout the night. Hail and gales are likely in some areas, particularly across the Lake District and Yorkshire Dales. The weather warning continues: "Spray and sudden flooding could lead to difficult driving conditions and some road closures. There is a small chance that some communities become cut off by flooded roads. "The most intense thunderstorms could produce frequent lightning, large hail and gusty winds, along with some heavy downpours for a time. This may lead to some surface water impacts in places." Further rain - albeit less heavy - is expected across the same regions on Sunday afternoon. North Wales will also see showers on Sunday, marking an end in these parts to the glorious weather most of the country has experienced recently. But Brits across southern England, and parts of the Midlands, will dodge showers for the whole weekend, forecasters say. The warmest regions will be the Southeast of England and East of England but it will also be pleasant across the Midlands and Southweast of England. Drizzle is anticipated across south Wales this afternoon. The Mirror reported yesterday how another band of low pressure will eventually creep across the UK from the southwest and, as a result, vicious thunderstorms will batter other areas soon. Weather maps show around 30mm of rain - more than half an average June's total - will lash across parts of the Midlands, the Home Counties and the East of England on Saturday June 28. It clashes with Glastonbury - and Somerset is expected to see some wet weather that weekend.
Daily Mirror
12-06-2025
- Daily Mirror
Flood hero who rescued submerged car driver nominated for Pride of Britain award
Brave pub landlord didn't hesitate to wade out into dangerous freezing waters and carry woman from submerged car to safety after she was trapped for two and a half hours A courageous publican who braved icy January flood water and carried a woman to safety from her submerged car has been nominated for a Pride of Britain Outstanding Bravery award. Ignoring any personal danger, Cimi Kazazi, whose flooded gastropub, as well as surrounding houses in Great Glen, Leicestershire, were devastated by the deluge, waded out to the 63-year-old woman - who was trapped in her car close to death - and saved her life. Yet he was speechless when he heard that, from thousands of life-saving champions, he had been nominated by a member of the public for this year's Outstanding Bravery category at Daily Mirror Pride of Britain Awards with P&O Cruises. The modest hero told The Mirror: 'Wow, I'm honoured. But I must tell you, it was the lady next to my office who first noticed the person trapped in the car, and she shouted, 'Jimmy, Jimmy, somebody needs help'.' Alerted to the floods in the early hours on Monday January 6 by a neighbour, Mr Kazazi had been making sure people staying in his pub were safe, when he plunged into the swirling flood water to save the stranded woman. 'I didn't know at the time, but the driver had already been trapped there for two and a half hours in the dark, and she told me that another 15 minutes and she would have passed out from hypothermia,' he said. He had gone to the pub after a neighbour called him at home to tell him the ground floor was under water. READ MORE: Pride of Britain launches with huge party as Florrie Bark shares hope for future 'I was worried as we had people staying upstairs in the pub, so I needed to go and check the power was off and that they were safe,' he said. 'But when I arrived at 5.30am, it was still dark and raining and snowing at the same time. The water must have been -5 degrees. It was freezing and my legs felt paralysed.' Twice he waded into the water to get to his property and help people. It was getting light and he was changing into dry clothes in his office when the trapped driver was spotted. He recalled: 'I was drying myself when I heard my name called, so I just went… boom… straight away. I didn't think about how I was going to get her out. And also, when I went back into the water for the third time, I didn't feel the cold.' The rising water levels meant the stranded car was dangerously close to being submerged. 'I didn't think about it at the time, but I couldn't see what was under the water,' he said. 'Not only was it freezing, but heavy benches had been completely moved by torrents of water. They were twisted like there had been a tornado. 'But I kept going and when I got to the car, the lady looked at me with disbelief because the water was nearly to the top of the glass. She opened her car door and I just lifted her up and took her back to the pub.' READ MORE: Brave mums fighting scandal 'bigger than thalidomide' land Pride of Britain nomination Upstairs, on the top floor of the pub, Mr Kazazi and some of the people staying there, helped to get her warm. 'We had spare radiators in case the hotel rooms lost power, so we surrounded her with radiators and hot drinks and food and waited for help,' he said. 'But emergency rescue services couldn't come with boats until the water had subsided by 9am, so I know the water must have been very dangerous. 'And when I was told another 15 minutes and she would have died, that's when I felt proud.' The rescued woman showed her thanks by visiting the flood rescuers and bringing food for 30-40 volunteers. Mr Kazazi was grateful for all the help his business was given. 'We had hundreds of people come and help clean up, and we opened our doors again to business after 11 days,' he said. 'I'm embarrassed, because now I have customers clapping me and postcards from all over the world congratulating me.' Previous awards in this category have gone to mum Emily Greenwood, who swam out into dangerous riptides to save a boy and a man. And, the previous year, lorry driver John Rastrick pulled a woman from a burning car seconds before it exploded on the motorway. Do you know a brave hero who has saved someone's life without a thought for their own? If you do, please consider nominating them for a Pride of Britain award. How to nominate Brave heroes are at the heart of Pride of Britain, and over the past 26 years, some truly dedicated courageous people have inspired the nation. If you know a hero who deserves an award, like the previous winners on this page, you can nominate them for: EMERGENCY SERVICES AWARD For police, fire, ambulance, paramedics or air, sea or mountain rescue who have gone beyond the call of duty. OUTSTANDING BRAVERY For adults who risk their own safety to help others who are in danger. The Pride of Britain team will consider every nomination, before compiling a shortlist for the judging panel. Nominate now at
Daily Record
10-06-2025
- Daily Record
Expert warns against popular summer drink which can cause dehydration as Scotland to hit 20C
There are certain things people should be avoiding during hot weather, as it could worsen the effects of dehydration. With temperatures soaring to highs of 20C in parts of the Scotland this week, it's clear that a heatwave has taken hold of the country this summer. There's a buzz of advice on what to be cautious of during the hot spell, including heatstroke, keeping cool, and maintaining hydration. It is forecast to be 17C in Glasgow on Tuesday but this is expected to rise to 20C on Wednesday and Thursday. To help keep Brits cool, The Mirror has highlighted certain activities to avoid in the heat as they could exacerbate dehydration effects and this includes minimising intake of a certain drink - and it's not coffee. Today (June 10) is expected to be dry with sunny intervals. Wednesday should also be dry but will have light cloud until evening. Thursday is set to have heavy rain, with the damp weather continuing over the weekend and into next week. Rohini Bajekal, a nutritionist and Board-Certified Lifestyle Medicine Professional with Plant Based Health Professionals, has issued a warning about the risks of dehydration. Rohini stated: "Hydration is super important, and you can find countless tips on staying hydrated, from time-marked bottles to whether tea and coffee count towards your water intake." She continued: "Dehydration can cause several, and serious health issues ranging from headaches, dizziness and lack of focus, to kidney and brain problems in severe cases." Rohini emphasised: "It's important that we stay hydrated at all times, but even more so as we approach the summer months." While it's well-known that drinking plenty of water is crucial in hot weather, there's one popular summertime drink that could actually worsen dehydration. Rohini cautioned: "Alcohol is an obvious drink to avoid. Alcohol is a diuretic, meaning it can cause your body to remove fluids from your blood through your renal system at a much faster rate than other liquids." She added: "This means you dehydrate faster than usual. "When drinking, I would recommend drinking water at regular intervals to replenish your system, and choose lighter coloured drinks with lower alcohol content, and obviously limit how much you drink. "I would also recommend avoiding sugary drinks. A study (July 2016) published in the American Journal of Physiology found that sugar sweetened beverages worsen dehydration and increase kidney injuries. These drinks often contain high amounts of caffeine too." Health expert Rohini also suggests incorporating hydrating food items into one's diet, highlighting vegetables like cucumbers and tomatoes, as well as fruits such as watermelon, for their significant water content. Rohini elaborated: "Roughly two-thirds of our body is made up of water. Whole plant-based foods such as fruits and vegetables generally have a high water content. "Cucumber (95 per cent water), watermelon (91 per cent), spinach (93 per cent), mushrooms (92 per cent) and tomatoes (95 per cent) are especially good sources. "They are also rich in fibre, a nutrient which only one in 10 UK adults meets the daily recommendation for." Additionally, she remarked: "The eight glasses a day goal is rather arbitrary as there are many factors that affect water intake including age, gender, body weight, the overall environment (e.g. a hot climate), activity levels, medical conditions, pregnancy and breastfeeding." While various beverages contain water, they could have diuretic effects, prompting more frequent loo visits. Rohini cautioned: "If you're drinking alcohol or a lot of coffee, remember they are diuretics (which means they promote water loss through urine), so it is a good idea to drink a glass of water in between drinks."
