Moment hero teen jumps into rolling car and pulls handbrake avoiding collision by seconds

This is the moment a hero teen leapt into a rolling car and pulled the handbrake, saving its two passengers from smashing into parked cars by mere centimetres.

Euan Lonnen, 18, was working at the Highland Farm Cafe in Dingwall, Scotland, when he spotted the red hatchback begin to roll forwards with two people in the rear seats.

CCTV shows he kicked into action immediately, running across the car park and grabbing hold of the car.

He first wrestled with the steering wheel, but then jumped into the driver's seat as the vehicles hurtled closer to a row of parked cars.

It jolted to a stop just before colliding with the row of vehicles, while another person on the far side was knocked to the ground.

Euan said: 'I was talking to a customer at the door, and she pointed out the car with no one in the driver's seat, that had started to roll.

'I started walking out to see if I could help, then I started running after it.

'My first thought process was to angle the wheel towards the overflow car park and see if I could get the car to stop - but the guy had turned the car off and took the keys, so the steering wheel had locked.

'Something inside of me said "just get in the car", and I put the handbrake on.

'The car had started skidding, so it didn't really stop until about a centimetre away from the other car.

'It was very, very close, and everyone was a bit shaken up.'

Thanks to Euan's quick thinking, both the passengers and the car escaped unharmed.

Kenny and Lesley, owners of the Highland Farm Cafe where Euan had been working a supervisor shift, shared the footage on social media.

Customers and staff praised his heroics, while the clip racked up thousands of likes and other impressed comments. 

Owner Kenneth said: 'We're very proud of how Euan reacted to the car rolling away.

'Euan is always looking for ways to look after our customers and this is another example of his looking out for others.

'The two elderly passengers hadn't even got their seat belts on so his actions really did save the day!'

Euan's grandmother Kathleen MacLennan wrote beneath the video: 'Well done Euan so proud to be your Granny xx'.

Tolmie Buchanan Janice joked: 'Wearing your cape to work I see Euan.'

Brenda Jack, meanwhile, suggested Euan should be in store for a '£1,000 bonus'.