Bee stings and burns: a tale of heroism from Trevor Parminter

Katanning man Trevor Parminter will receive an Australian bravery award after helping save a woman’s life by pulling her from a burning car in Wickepin in 2021. The Governor General announced 39 Australian Bravery Decorations on Tuesday and Mr Parminter has been honoured with a Commendation for Brave Conduct after his efforts to help save 65-year-old Nancy Tayler. He suffered bee stings and burns to his hands after pulling the woman out of a car in Wickepin on February 10 in 2021. Mr Parminter was coming over the crest of a hill, driving from Kulin to Bannister, when he came across a burning vehicle. “I spotted a person in the car, didn’t even think about it, and pulled her out,” he said. “My work colleague was in the car behind me and we had both pulled over to get her out of the car once we saw a person in there. “She lived but she suffered what looked like third-degree burns to about 60 per cent of her body. “I was fine, but got a couple of burns to the hands and stung by bees.” Ms Tayler’s car had crashed into a bee hive-riddled tree. Unfortunately her nine-year old grandson Emmett Taylor and three dogs did not survive the crash. Mr Parminter was just an ordinary passerby on the fateful day. With no emergency experience, he didn’t even think about approaching the car to save another’s life. “I would do it again, I didn’t even hesitate or think about it,” Mr Parminter said. “There was absolutely no one else around, if we were any later, there would have been no saving her.” Ms Tayler suffered burns and broken bones and was flown to Fiona Stanley Hospital Mr Parminter is one of 22 people to receive a Commendation for Brave Conduct. He has previously received a Royal Life Saving Gold Cross award for his actions in the rescue which was also awarded to his colleague Glenn Schepis.