A NORTH YORKSHIRE firefighter is to be presented with bravery awards following a plea from a young mother whose daughter died after a freak accident.

Speaking exclusively to the Evening Press, Stephanie Greenwood, 22, said fireman Andrew Jakeman risked his own life in an heroic attempt to save her seven-year-old daughter Cherrie, who died after a car, with a learner driver at the wheel, went out of control and ended up in a lake.

She said: "Mr Jakeman showed tremendous courage and deserves some kind of award."

Police responded immediately to her plea, saying the firefighter would be presented with a divisional commander's commendation certificate next month.

Selby-based acting Superintendent Brian Outhwaite, who was at the scene of the tragedy last August, said: "It was a tremendous personal effort by Mr Jakeman. I have nothing but admiration for him."

The 32-year-old brigadesman, from Fernlea Close, Selby, has also been put forward for an award by his area manager Phil Wade.

North Yorkshire Fire Service press officer Terry Glover said: "Mr Jakeman will receive a bravery award, but the level has yet to be determined."

Wakefield coroner David Hinchliffe yesterday recorded a verdict of accidental death on Cherrie, who was trapped for 40 minutes in her mother's submerged car at the bottom of a water-filled quarry at Womersley, near Whitley Bridge.

She was rescued from the VW Golf by Mr Jakeman, who carried a giant limestone boulder under his arm to weigh him down so he could walk along the bottom of the 20ft deep quarry known locally as the Blue Lagoon.

He plucked the unconscious girl from the car before bringing her to the surface.

Cherrie, from Low Ackworth, near Pontefract, died three days later in Leeds General Infirmary.

Coroner Mr Hinchliffe yesterday commended the firefighter's valiant attempts to save Cherrie's life.

He said: "Mr Jakeman would probably say it was all in a day's work, but he went above and beyond of what might be expected of him professionally.

"He persisted with the rescue, not knowing whether his fire service breathing apparatus would even work under water, and with no regard to his own safety."

Mr Hinchliffe said what had started out as a pleasant summer afternoon at a local beauty spot had turned into an appalling tragedy.

He said the VW Golf, which plunged backwards into the lagoon, was being driven at the time by Miss Greenwood's close friend Sarah Taylor, a learner driver who was still having driving lessons.

Judging from the loud engine revs, which at one time were at screeching point, the accelerator pedal must have been pressed either in mistake for the brake or as part of the general confusion.

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