By MEGAN LEVY
A GOOD Samaritan who pulled an elderly woman from her burning Melbourne home this morning is being hailed a hero by firefighters who say his actions almost certainly saved the woman’s life.
The 85-year-old woman suffered burns to her hair and smoke inhalation when the blaze, believed to have been sparked by a cigarette, quickly engulfed her Noble Park home about 9.15am.
Douglas Berry, 27, was walking down Green Street when he saw smoke and flames coming from the house and ran into the backyard to investigate.
He opened the back door to find the elderly woman standing there in shock.
“She looked a little dazed and confused so I put her over my shoulder and got out of the house as quickly as I could,” Mr Berry said.
“The house was filled with smoke so it was fortunate she was standing near the back of the house where I could find her easily and get her out.”
Country Fire Authority firefighters arrived to find the pair outside the burning home.
It took 15 firefighters about an hour to extinguish the blaze, which destroyed the house.
Springvale CFA senior station officer Bernie Frawley said Mr Barry’s actions probably almost certainly saved the woman’s life.
“Because the house was filled with smoke, it only would have been a matter of time before the lady would have passed out,” he said.
“The outcome could have been very different if Douglas wasn’t there to pull her out. He should be very proud of his actions today.”
He said the fire was believe to have been sparked by a cigarette in the main bedroom of the house.
