Today we reach the penultimate category in our countdown to the Examiner Community Awards – the Courage Award. The winner will be revealed at the awards ceremony at the Galpharm Stadium on Monday.

JASON Mather did not hesitate for a second when he spotted a shed on fire.

The father-of-three knew a man was trapped inside and sprang into action.

The 38-year-old, from Upperthong, sprinted through snow in his socks and managed to break through the locked door.

And he pulled 53-year-old Doug Senior from certain death.

Mr Mather, who has already received a bravery certificate at a ceremony at Holmfirth Fire Station, said he had been getting ready for work last February when his wife Claire told him smoke and flames were coming from the next door’s garden.

“I was running late,’’ he said. “If I’d been on time it could have been much worse.

“I didn’t have any shoes on but I ran through snow and ran against the door like you do in the movies.

“Eve, my eldest, ran out with me in her pyjamas.

“I bounced off the door four or five times, but eventually I got through.

“The fire was quite substantial. Flames were licking round the door and Doug was just on the other side so I just dragged him out.”

He then rolled Doug in the snow as he had suffered burns to his hands and face.

Mr Mather, who works at Honley sheet metal company Allsops, said he was pleased to accept the award but said his heroics were fuelled purely by instinct.

“Anybody in that situation would at the very least attempt what I did,’’ he said.

Mr Senior said he was certain the Mathers’ quick thinking had saved him from death.

He said: “The shed burst into a fireball.

“If it hadn’t been for Jason and Claire getting up and seeing the flames I wouldn’t be here today.

“I’m certain I was seconds from death – it was an absolute inferno.

“I couldn’t get the door open, my hands and my lungs were burned. I was in hospital for quite a while.

“I was only trapped for about a minute but the shed was gone within 10 minutes.

“I’ve been in some situations in my life but that was the closest call I’ve had.”

A HORRIFYING horse riding accident didn’t deter Susi Sadler from getting back on her steed and raising thousands of pounds for charity.

The Mirfield woman was thrown from her horse into a gate post, severely injuring her face.

The impact was so bad it caused her face to come away from her skull, requiring a top surgeon to be called in from his holiday.

The surgery to repair the damage left her with 30 stitches across her cheek and 60 more inside her mouth to re-attach her face.