Unsung fire hero to rescue
Published: June 8, 2007
A SECOND good Samaritan in 48 hours has shunned praise after bravely battling flames and falling debris in a devastating northern NSW house fire.
On Monday night, a reluctant hero saved a woman’s life by dragging her from a burning home at Labrador, before he disappeared into the darkness.
Two days later, Ocean Shores retiree Alan Ladner has hailed a media-shy local firefighter a hero for his role in trying to save the man’s burning home on Wednesday night.
Brunswick Heads firefighter Mitchell Foy battled through thick black smoke and falling ceiling embers to ensure the double-storey Dyum Place house was deserted when he arrived at the scene at 7.15pm.
The 37-year-old firefighter was hit on the shoulder by part of the burning ceiling and was pushed back on to the internal steel stairwell as he worked with colleagues inside.
Knowing he had suffered an injury, but without any fanfare, he took himself outside to waiting ambulance paramedics who treated him for minor burns and cuts before transferring him to Mullumbimby Hospital, said attending Tweed Byron police Sergeant Brad Stewart.
“It was pretty incredible. At one point, after the stairwell was cut off for use, their only access was via a ladder on the outside of the building,” said Sgt Stewart.
“They were in there in pitch black smoke using breathing apparatus but within 10 minutes they’d got in there, ensured there were no occupants, and doused the place to stop the flames.
“They really worked quickly to minimise the damage.”
The media-shy firefighter yesterday declined repeated requests for an interview with The Gold Coast Bulletin.
Northern Rivers duty commander Inspector Chris Fabri said the part-time professional firefighter did not want to talk publicly about his brave efforts.
Owner of the house, 83- year-old Mr Ladner said he would like to thank Mr Foy, and the 18 attending fire officers for their courage trying to save his home of 28 years.
Mr Ladner’s 82-year-old cousin Nina Cockrane arrived on Monday from Melbourne for a two-week holiday.
The pair had been sitting in the timber and brick home’s upstairs lounge room watching television when they heard ‘a bit of a bang’ about 7.05pm.
“We thought it was a light blowing out but we quickly realised it was the heater because there was smoke billowing out and when the heat reached the nearby powerpoint it just lit up and fire caught the drapes and everything went up so quickly,’ said Mr Ladner.
“I can’t thank them enough for what they all did. They are unsung heroes as far as I’m concerned.”
Mr Ladner lost most of his possessions in the blaze but his 17-year-old pet cat Gayla was retrieved by firefighters.
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