When Dantae Francis thinks about a hero, the name that comes immediately to mind is his uncle’s, Robert Johnson. Trapped inside a burning car following a crash along Marescaux Road, Kingston, Francis had almost given up hope when he caught sight of Johnson. It was shortly after 2 a.m. on February 16 last year when Johnson was heading home from a game of dominoes and spotted smoke in the distance. At first, he thought a building was on fire. But as he got closer, he realised a vehicle was engulfed in flames, with several people trapped inside. What Johnson did not know was that his relatives were among the occupants. Inside the burning vehicle, Francis said, his life flashed before his eyes. “The fire did a gwane, and the door nah pull, and the seatbelt strapped me down. It was him and a taxi driver who pull mi from the car and put mi in a police jeep,” Francis recalled. Johnson said that having seen the car on fire, he immediately asked his driver to pull over so he could help. “Mi never know say mi cousin already dead in the car, and mi nephew trapped,” he recounted. Johnson said one of the occupants had already escaped the vehicle, but he did not recognise him. The injured man repeatedly tried to tell him that a relative was still inside.  “Him keep on a tell mi say ‘we’, and mi keep on a ask, ‘we, who?’. He was very weak, but him manage to say the word ‘family’, and point back to the burning car, and mi just spring off to the passenger door,” he said. Johnson then saw Francis. His eyes well up with tears as he recalled making eye contact with his nephew as his flesh burnt in the inferno. “When mi go to the passenger door a mi nephew eyes I was looking in, and mi body get weak same time. Him seh, ‘Uncle, mi toes dem burn off already’. Mi driver friend help mi to pull out mi nephew first. ... Afterward we draw out the driver,” he recounted. The crash claimed the lives of Andre Wright, Tavaugn Miller and Kawayne Fearon. Francis suffered devastating injuries. His left leg was amputated days later and his back was broken in three places. “Every time I look at my nephew and see that he is still alive with us today, mi just cry,” Johnson said. “It’s like non-stop tears and I can’t believe he is alive . He is a blessing and it is just unbelievable. I can’t stop give thanks to the Almighty above,” Johnson said. More than a year on, the 20-year-old is still recovering. But through the pain, he remains grateful to be alive — and even more grateful to the uncle he credits with saving his life. “A mi uncle make mi deh bout because the night when mi inna the car, a give mi about to give up on life, because mi did trap inside, and mi look up and see him,” Francis said, speaking from his home in Allman Town, Kingston. Johnson is set to receive a Badge of Honour for Gallantry at the National Honours and Awards ceremony on Heroes Day in October. The award is a Jamaican national honour given to civilians who perform brave acts of heroism and great courage while facing extreme danger. For Francis, there is no question that his uncle deserves it. “Mi really feel good say mi uncle a get honoured because is a life-saver and hero inna real life,” Francis said. The 20-year-old said he was overcome with gratitude when he learnt that Johnson was being recognised for the courage he showed during the terrifying rescue. “From mi hear say mi uncle a get awarded for him bravery mi start prepare myself to go with him on the day because him deserve it. Him is my life-saver,” Francis said. For Johnson, the honour is both humbling and deeply meaningful.  “It is a great feeling and I feel really special,” he told THE STAR. “When I got the call from King’s House I was so happy.”  But while the medal will mark a moment of national recognition, Johnson said the night of the crash remains etched in his mind.