A city mum has hailed the heroic actions of her son after he rescued a friend from a crashed car moments before it burst into flames.

Henry Higgins, 17, is a sixth-form student at Jane Austen College in Norwich and was in the passenger seat as a "freak" accident unfolded.

While driving along Mattishall Lane in North Tuddenham, near Dereham, at around 10.45pm last Friday the car skidded in mud and ended up on its roof and wedged between two trees. 

"It happened really quickly, I can't explain it," said Henry.

Norwich Evening News: The car set alight quickly following the crashThe car set alight quickly following the crash (Image: Racheal Higgins)

The youngster managed to stay calm in the moments after the crash, realising quickly that the front of the car was on fire, and the doors couldn't be opened.

According to his mum, Racheal, the teen called his friends who were nearby - having been travelling in another vehicle - to come and open the boot, which was their only other route out.

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Henry then helped his female friend escape through the boot of the car and they escaped before the car was engulfed in flames. 

Norwich Evening News: The car skidded on a muddy road in the freak accidentThe car skidded on a muddy road in the freak accident (Image: Racheal Higgins)

"He helped to save his friend before he saved himself," said his mum, who is a nurse at the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital.

"I'm so proud of him and his friends."

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Henry qualified as a private pilot at the start of last month, and he feels that the training during this, which involves the simulation of a plane crash, helped him to remain calm.

Norwich Evening News: Henry is a qualified pilot of private aircrafts and thinks his training helped him to stay calm during the crashHenry is a qualified pilot of private aircrafts and thinks his training helped him to stay calm during the crash (Image: Racheal Higgins)

He added: "All I thought was that I needed to get my friend out of the car."

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A Norfolk police spokesman confirmed officers had attended the scene alongside the fire service and that no arrests were made, with no other vehicle thought to have been involved.

Both teenagers were treated for their injuries at the N&N, with Henry having a sprained hand and whiplash.

The driver of the car said she was not yet ready to speak about the crash but it is understood she also had minor injuries.