RIYADH: A teacher from Qassim has been awarded the King Abdulaziz Medal-First Class and SR1 million for saving the lives of four women teachers who had been trapped in a burning car.

Abdulaziz Salem Fayez Al-Harbi received the medal from Minister of Education Ahmad bin Mohammed Al-Issa, on the orders of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman.

Al-Harbi was returning home after school in December when he spotted the accident in Aqalat Al-Suqoor, near Buraidah in Qassim. He immediately parked his car and approached the burning vehicle to see if he could help.

Moved by the plight of the women, who were crying out for help, he smashed the back window of the vehicle and helped each one out, ignoring the possibility that the car’s gas tank could explode.

The women, who had been heading to their school in a remote area, suffered various injuries. However, the drivers of both vehicles died, a result of their high-speed crash.

Commenting on the award, Abdulaziz Turkistani, former adviser at the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, told Arab News that King Salman’s gesture followed the tradition of other Saudi kings to reward those who help others, in line with the teachings of Islam.

He said King Salman has also rewarded non-Saudis for their bravery. “We remember the heroic act of the Egyptian martyr, Ibrahim Abdulazzi Al-Qulaly, who saved 10 lives in the Jazan hospital fire last December, before dying of exhaustion and smoke inhalation.” King Salman had honored Al-Qulaly’s family in Cairo in March, with a medal handed to them by Hamad Al-Dowaili, deputy health minister, and a SR1 million check.