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Hero Breaks Open Door; Saves Old Woman From Fire
Kadooment Hero! That's what residents are calling a young man who yesterday, Kadooment Day, lifted a 94-year-old woman from a burning house and took her to safety.
Shawn Howell broke down a door and brought Enid Sandiford to safety after a room in her Seclusion Road, Black Rock, St Michael home caught on fire.
He then returned to fight the blaze with the help of others who were on their way to watch the bands parade.
"I broke off the door and already the place was filled with smoke . . . . I made sure I got the old lady out from the front-house, but in the bedroom the bed was on fire and the fan was burning, causing me to get trapped a bit, but no one was hurt," Howell said, adding that his companion Antoinette Smith also helped.
Howell was treated for smoke inhalation by paramedics, while Sandiford was in the care of nearby relatives.
Though Sandiford was not able to speak at length, her daughter, Benita Eastmond, in tears, said she was grateful to Howell and all the others who assisted.
"My mum lived there from a baby and I am thankful to everyone who assisted because this could have been so much worse. It touched my heart to see all the people pulling things from the house and I'm grateful to God and Shawn that my mother was not hurt," Eastmond said.
Six fire officers under the command of Station Officer Trevor Applewhaite responded to the blaze at 1:20 p.m. but by then the fire had already been brought under control by residents and passers-by.
One of them said he had just put down his cooler to watch the bands when he smelt the smoke.
"It was not even ten minutes that I walked by the house and as soon as I found my spot and put down my cooler I smelled this smoke, so I ran back up the gap and that is when we realised what was happening and helped out," Kevin Rawlins said.
There was no major damage to the house except to the room was destroyed. Howell said it was due to the quick response from people who were walking through the gap that made all the difference.
"Everyone lives good in this area . . . . It was good to see that no one hesitated," he said.
That aside, 94-year-old Sandiford was still able to enjoy a plate of fish-cakes and watch the bands on parade - a pastime she enjoyed yearly. (PA)
Shawn Howell broke down a door and brought Enid Sandiford to safety after a room in her Seclusion Road, Black Rock, St Michael home caught on fire.
He then returned to fight the blaze with the help of others who were on their way to watch the bands parade.
"I broke off the door and already the place was filled with smoke . . . . I made sure I got the old lady out from the front-house, but in the bedroom the bed was on fire and the fan was burning, causing me to get trapped a bit, but no one was hurt," Howell said, adding that his companion Antoinette Smith also helped.
Howell was treated for smoke inhalation by paramedics, while Sandiford was in the care of nearby relatives.
Though Sandiford was not able to speak at length, her daughter, Benita Eastmond, in tears, said she was grateful to Howell and all the others who assisted.
"My mum lived there from a baby and I am thankful to everyone who assisted because this could have been so much worse. It touched my heart to see all the people pulling things from the house and I'm grateful to God and Shawn that my mother was not hurt," Eastmond said.
Six fire officers under the command of Station Officer Trevor Applewhaite responded to the blaze at 1:20 p.m. but by then the fire had already been brought under control by residents and passers-by.
One of them said he had just put down his cooler to watch the bands when he smelt the smoke.
"It was not even ten minutes that I walked by the house and as soon as I found my spot and put down my cooler I smelled this smoke, so I ran back up the gap and that is when we realised what was happening and helped out," Kevin Rawlins said.
There was no major damage to the house except to the room was destroyed. Howell said it was due to the quick response from people who were walking through the gap that made all the difference.
"Everyone lives good in this area . . . . It was good to see that no one hesitated," he said.
That aside, 94-year-old Sandiford was still able to enjoy a plate of fish-cakes and watch the bands on parade - a pastime she enjoyed yearly. (PA)
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