Neighbour of fire victim hailed a hero
A WOMAN who went into a blazing house to rescue her epileptic neighbour last Thursday afternoon has been praised by a fire chief for her bravery.
Fire and Rescue Service Station Commander Stephen McDowell said the 'selfless actions' of Michelle Starrett in going into the smoke filled house at Camlin Gardens in Crumlin and pulling the woman to safety deserved the highest praise.
However, Michelle herself said she had simply done what she could and praised 15-year-old schoolboy Ryan Quinn who kicked down the front door to let her get in and then helped put out the fire.
The woman rescued from the house, who is believed to be in her 50's, remains in intensive care suffering from burns to her feet, legs and back.
Michelle, a mother-of-two, had just returned from work when children told her they had seen smoke coming out of the nearby bungalow.
At first Michelle attempted to get in through the front door. When she couldn't force it Ryan kicked the door open and Michelle ran continued in. She was forced back by the smoke but managed to open a window before getting out.
She then ran round the back and tried to get in there. When that failed she covered her face and went back in through the front door, creeping along the floor. When she got to the sitting-room the smoke was so thick she couldn't see the victim at first, even though she was only two metres away.
When Michelle finally found her the woman was lying on the floor with her clothes on fire.
"I was worried when I got in and couldn't see her. The smoke was so thick - she was only two metres in front of me and I still could not see her. She was not even screaming - the only words that I heard her say were 'Can someone help me?'" said Michelle.
Ryan got water to put the fire out while Michelle grabbed a blanket to wrap the woman up while they waited for the paramedics.
"I just saw there was a fire and went in" Michelle said. "I didn't really think what I was doing. She was very, very lucky. I think that the only reason she survived was because she fell onto the floor so she was underneath the fire and smoke. God was on her side."
Station Commander McDowell said: "It was a good job there was a smoke alarm fitted and it did activate and that the fire happened during the day. It was local children who had seen the smoke and called neighbours.
"I would like to praise the neighbour for her bravery. It seems that her selfless actions most definitely saved a life."
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Weather for Lisburn
Friday 25 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 12 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 20 mph
Wind direction: East
