A COURAGEOUS Runcorn schoolboy has been hailed a hero after rescuing his sister and brother from their car after it was involved in a crash with a bus.

Quick-thinking eight-year-old Ethan Watkins helped his sister, Isobel, aged three, and brother, Daniel, aged six, scramble out of the smashed rear window of their hatchback car.

Both vehicles ended up wedged in a bush in Norton Lane with the bus on top of the car.

Runcorn firefighters presented the three children from Sandymoor with bravery certificates and gave them a tour of the fire station.

Runcorn Red Watch manager Tony Perischine praised Ethan. He said: “Ethan stayed calm and told firefighters he helped the other children out of the rear window. He acted in a very responsible way.

“All three children were sitting on the ground when we got there with the driver standing at the side of the road.

“It could have been a lot more serious.

“They were very fortunate to get out of the vehicle.”

Their dad, Gaz suffered head injuries bu tmanaged to escape from the crushed vehicle.

Daniel suffered a broken hip and was flown to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital by air ambulance.

Ethan and Isobel escaped with minor injuries.

The accident happened shortly after 8am on Tuesday, February 28.

Firefighters were so impressed with Ethan’s actions and the remarkable bravery shown by all three children, they wanted to recognise their courage.

They presented them with official certificates signed by Cheshire’s Chief Fire Officer, Paul Hancock.

Ethan’s headteacher at Moore Primary School, Jan McDonald, said: “Ethan is such a sensible and caring young man, it would be second nature for him to think of others.”