Former Chelsea left-back Graeme Le Saux helped an elderly couple to safety when their campervan went up in flames in Surrey at the weekend.
The 46-year-old spotted smoke coming from the vehicle and approached the scene to stop a 72-year-old man from returning to the campervan to retrieve his wallet.
According to Le Saux's wife Mariana, a series of mini explosions resulted in the vehicle turning to ashes "in around 25 minutes".
In an interview with getSurrey, Mrs Le Saux said: "Graeme asked if there was any gas on board, and the husband said 'yes, as well as petrol'. He then said that they had to move straight away, in case the gas exploded.
"My husband and son stayed with them. I have never seen something go up so quickly. You could just see this inferno. My husband and son were stopping traffic as the fire crews had not yet arrived. It went from a motorhome to ashes in around 25 minutes."
The elderly gentleman was later taken to hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation.