A SELFLESS Stourport father who was given a police bravery award for helping save the life of a man who set himself alight is taking on a gruelling cycle challenge for charity.

Tim Tranter is taking part in the inaugural Vélo Birmingham 100-mile cycle sportive to raise £1,000 for mental health awareness charity Mind.

The race starts and finishes on Birmingham’s Broad Street but will see them cycle through Worcestershire countryside and Staffordshire towns and villages.

It was the dramatic incident, which took place in Bromyard in December 2016, which changed the 31-year-old Wyre Forest Cycle Racing Club member’s outlook on life and inspired him to take on the challenge on Sunday September 24.

West Mercia Police said the brave and quick thinking actions of Mr Tranter – with the help of other passers-by - saved the victim’s life or from suffering life changing injuries.

Mr Tranter pushed the man to the floor, smothered the flames, removed his burning clothing and patted out the flames on his head and hands.

He was commended for their actions by the police and received awards from the High Sheriff of Herefordshire, Bill Jackson at a ceremony in February.

Mr Tranter, an operations manager and product designer, said: “Leaving work a few minutes late one Friday evening changed my outlook on life and made me realise, not only how life is precious but also how mental health, while not visible to the naked eye, can be so fragile.

“As I left work and pulled off our industrial estate on to the main access road I noticed, what at first looked like a man lighting a cigarette with a large flamed lighter and thought nothing else of it.

“A few seconds later having driven off down the road; I looked back in my mirror to see the man ablaze and staggering across the road.

“Immediately I slammed my car into reverse to get to the man and jumped out of the car. I shouted at him to get down and roll. When he didn’t I pushed him to the ground and rolled him over several times to try and smother the flames.

“This was when I noticed the flames were not going out but instead being fed with an accelerant the man had doused himself in.”

Mr Tranter said he was left with no option to remove the man’s clothes and eventually the fire was put out.

Two other passers-by kept the man calm as Mr Tranter, who is married to Kara and has a three-year-old son Joshua, called the emergency services.

He added: “The emergency services told us the man had been missing all day and has a history of mental illness. The police and ambulance service thanked me for saving the man’s life. All I can hope is anyone would do the same for me.”

People can sponsor Mr Tranter by visiting https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Tim-Tranter