Student rescues grandfather
Published: July 30, 2007
Fiji — THE quick actions of a primary school student saved her grandfather, who was asleep, from being burnt alive.
Her close relatives, school, police and fire authorities yesterday praised the heroic actions of 13-year-old Losalini Qaqau.
The shy Class Eight student of Samabula Primary School was modest about the ordeal.
She was largely thankful that she had been taught the safety skills in school three days before the incident.
“I was not scared at the time,” she said. “I was just following what they taught us last week.”
She was at home with an aunt, her grandfather, her four-year-old nephew when the fire broke out about 3pm on Sunday.
“Without her nobody would see me here today,” said Willie Uluiviti, 71, a retired schoolteacher and pastor.
Young Qaqau stayed calm and crawled along the passage floor, below smoke fumes, despite the fire beginning to creep from an open bedroom to other parts of the house.
She had also called the fire authorities seconds after they became aware of the blaze,
While the blaze spread, Qaqau kept her cool and headed for her grandfather’s room after being directed by her aunt and namesake, Losalini Uluiviti.
“I was asleep when this young girl was running inside house calling ‘Ratu, Ratu, fire fire’,” said her proud grandfather.
“I would recommend that she be commended or given a medal for her efforts. I would not be alive today if she didn’t do what she did,” said the native of Natauloa, Nairai in the Lomaiviti Group.
Mark Reid, the National Fire Authority Chief Fire Officer, was overwhelmed that the fire safety awareness campaigns had made a difference.
“I’ve got goose-bumps,” he said. “It’s the first sign that we’ve seen that people are taking note of what we are trying to tell people. We will probably be going over to the school to recognise this little girl’s efforts.
“We would like to think that our efforts have led to a life being saved and possibly more in the future.”
Mr Reid said the NFA would be readying an internal award to present to young Losalini.
He said the smoke house fire safety exercise was a good initiative for primary schools but they needed more funding to be able to include more schools on a regular basis.
Samabula Primary School head teacher Shiu Maharaj was proud of Qaqau when told of her brave act.
“I think she was a very brave girl to have done what she did under those circumstances and I will be seeking her out in assembly this week for recognition,” he said.
“No doubt having the fire drill last week was a worthwhile cause.”
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