30 October 2007
Two men who rescued a family from their blazing Batley home are to receive Chief Fire Officer’s Commendations.
The ceremony will take place at Batley Fire Station, Carlinghow Lane, 3 November (2pm).
PHOTOGRAPHERS WELCOME.
Terry Johnson and Gareth Mariner, both of The Avenue in Batley, were alerted to a fire at the home of a neighbour in Laurel Drive on 17 August.
On arrival at the scene they saw two children, two-year-old Chloe O’Brien and 10-year-old Emma Teateam, through an upstairs window. Terry climbed onto Gareth’s shoulders and plucked the youngsters, one-handed, to safety whilst smoke was rolling about their heads.
The children screamed that their mother, Donna Heywood, was still inside so the rescuers ran to the front of the building and tried to break in. They eventually had to smash a ground floor window with a neighbour’s garden gnome. Gareth went inside and found the woman unconscious on a settee. He dragged Donna to the window and was passing her outside when firefighters arrived.
Terry suffered a fractured rib and Gareth a cut to his arm.
The chief fire officer believes that without the brave action of both men the family would have suffered severe smoke inhalation, injury or worse.
ENDS
For further information please contact Stephen Hardy, 01274 655717
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