PORT McNEILL – When Barry Foster’s fire department pager called him to a car accident last week he wasn’t expecting house guests, or to find one of his employees trapped in her car.

The accident took place Sept. 17, about a kilometre north of the Zeballos turnoff on Highway 19. A small car, driven by Fran Trevor of Port McNeill, crossed the centre line and struck a northbound recreational vehicle driven by a couple from Germany.

The force of the impact vaulted the engine from the car while the RV burst into flames, but surprisingly no one was killed.

For Michael and Mecky Spiering of Oberhausen, Germany, a simple change in drivers likely saved both their lives.

“It’s possibly a huge thing that Mecky took over the driving just a few minutes before,” said Foster, who volunteers with Port McNeill fire department and has over 30 years experience as a firefighter. “The accident was on her side and Michael was able to reach over and pull her to safety before the vehicle burst into flames.” Mecky suffered a broken ankle, Michael a burned hand from trying to retrieve a suitcase containing the couple’s passports.

Fran Trevor was extracted from her car, but had several broken bones. She was transported to Port McNeill hospital then to Campbell River for surgeries to leg and arm.

“When you consider what a violent catastrophic impact it was, the result was the best it could’ve been,” said Foster.

Foster didn’t stay on the scene, but headed back to Port McNeill to get Trevor’s son and take him to the hospital.

“I didn’t just want him getting a phone call,” said Foster. Trevor works for Foster at McNeill’s Inn. Once at the hospital, Foster checked in on the German couple.

“I went up to her (Mecky) and she was in a lot of pain,” said Foster. “I held her hand and said I am very happy you have a broken ankle.”

As the couple waited, Foster and Michael discovered a common passion – firefighting.

“Michael is a fire chief at the volunteer fire department where he lives so the whole firefighter brotherhood thing kicked in,” said Foster. In fact, the Spierings became part of the family. Foster invited them to stay with his family until Mecky was ready to travel.

“I have never needed help for myself,” said Michael. “But we have found so many friends. They have spent a lot of time and helped us 24 hours a day and we’re happy to have met him.”

Foster says the whole community has helped the Spierings with everything from conversation in German to rewiring a computer to work on North American amperage.

“German-speaking people have come out of the woodwork,” said Foster.

Mecky, who is on crutches, really appreciated those who spoke to her in German.

“It’s good to hear German words in this situation,” said Mecky. She said she was loaned German books, had a German-speaking nurse and even had someone pray with her in German.

Foster put the couple on a plane Saturday so they could head home to Germany and their two teenage children who were unaware of the accident. Despite their difficult experience, the Spierings plan to return.

“We plan to be back of course,” said Michael. “We will come back to visit our friends Barry and Karen. Now we know Port McNeill so much better than we ever would.”

And Michael and Mecky both made it clear they aren’t casting blame.

“We have no bad feelings against Fran,” said Michael. “It was an accident.”

Foster pointed out that Trevor will need the community’s support too once she is released from hospital.

“Obviously she is not going to be working or a while,” said Foster. “I am not sure what financial implications that will have on her family.”