A HEROIC AA patrolman has finally collected his bravery award after risking all to save a York student when her minibus careered 200 feet down a ravine.

Rick Buckley, of Garrowby View, Stamford Bridge, missed collecting the accolade from AA bosses last year as his partner, Helen Konya, was about to give birth to baby Kodi.

But last week the 30-year-old lifesaver - now a proud dad due to marry in September - attended this year's glitzy London event and received official recognition for his actions in the summer of 2002.

The drama unfolded when a minibus plunged off the road down a near-vertical drop at the Hole of Horcum, between Pickering and Whitby.

The vehicle - luckily only carrying student driver Helen Grieve on the way to a children's camping trip - was left hanging precariously after lodging upside down against a tree.

Helen, a student at York University, was drifting in and out of consciousness, stuck between the roof and door pillar, with a tree jammed against her stomach.

Patrolman Rick recalls that it was pure chance he saw the minibus barrel-roll off the road.

"I was travelling the other way, heard a massive crash and saw trees and soil thrown in the air. I spun my van around and saw the minibus smashed to pieces."

Rick scrambled down the embankment to offer comfort and life-saving first-aid - aware that the vehicle could have tumbled into a ravine at any moment.

"I had to get in there and the adrenalin took over," said Rick.

"The paramedics said if I hadn't seen the crash, the driver could have been undiscovered for weeks.

"I was scared, but I couldn't let on I was because she was panicking. I was with her for about two hours, holding her up because the van was upside down."

After a tricky rescue operation, the driver was airlifted to hospital. Amazingly, Helen was suffered only minor injuries and shock.

Rick is still overwhelmed by his new status. "I don't see myself as a hero," he said.

"I'd like to think if I was in the same position somebody would do exactly the same for me."

Roger Wood, AA managing director, said: "Rick is a credit to the AA."

Rick was praised by Prime Minister Tony Blair for his actions during a life-saving awards ceremony last October.

Updated: 10:48 Monday, March 01, 2004