TWO courageous women who rescued a pensioner from a Co Down house fire have been commended for their bravery.
Paramedic Tara Wallace and Amanda White, a member of the public, saved a 65-year-old woman from her smoke-filled property in Annahilt. The women carried the victim from the mid-terrace house following a cooker fire on January 27 last year.
Ms Wallace had been sent to the scene after a call to the Ambulance Service from a concerned family unable to make contact with a relative with a diabetic condition.
When Ms Wallace arrived at the house, she saw smoke coming from the property and the fire alarm sounding and called 999 for the NI Fire Service to attend.
Spotting a woman lying on the living-room sofa and realising the seriousness of the situation, Ms Wallace and passer-by Ms White, smashed a window to enter the house and carried the woman to safety.
Ms Wallace treated the woman for smoke inhalation and she was taken to hospital by ambulance, while fire crews extinguished an accidental cooker fire in the kitchen.
In recognition of their courageous actions, the two women have been formally commended by the NIFRS and presented with certificates of bravery for the "protection of life from fire".
Gary Thompson from the NIFRS said: "I am delighted to formally commend Tara and Amanda today for their brave and swift actions and to present them with certificates of bravery.
"Both Tara and Amanda displayed remarkable heroism in challenging circumstances.
"Tara went over and above the call of duty on this occasion, and is an asset to the 999 emergency family here in Northern Ireland.
"The heroic efforts from both women in raising the alarm and rescuing the woman undoubtedly saved her life."
