Family escape dramatic car fire in Waterlooville moments before flames engulfed the vehicle

The family – comprising a man, woman, and a young girl – were travelling along London Road near the Ladybridge Road roundabout, in Purbrook, when their car burst into flames at 4pm.

But the family were unaware of the situation until they were flagged down by a motorist behind them, according to Waterlooville Fire Station watch manager David Cole.

The firefighter said: ‘It was a family of three in the car. They didn’t even realise their car was on fire – they were flagged down by the car behind them.

‘The car was well alight on our arrival.

‘There didn’t appear to be any suspicious cause of the fire – but we don’t know for sure what caused it.’

A crew onboard one fire engine extinguished the blaze within 15 minutes, according to the fire fighter, and no one sustained any injuries.

A passing motorist who witnessed the incident said the car was ‘absolutely engulfed in flames’.

The Purbrook resident, who asked not to be named, said: ‘The car was heading towards Waterlooville.

‘I was in absolute shock – I thought, ‘oh my god’.

‘I was worried about the ambulance crew being so close to the fire, I thought it was going to blow up.

‘But it had already blown up before we saw it, apparently.’

A passing ambulance stopped to offer assistance and manage the scene.

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