Michael Formica to receive bravery award for saving family in 2019 Harristown house fire

When a distraught mother told him her little girl was trapped inside a raging house fire, an off-duty paramedic went above and beyond the call of duty to ensure that little girl made it back to her mum.

When a distraught mother told him her eight-year-old daughter was trapped somewhere in a raging house fire, an off-duty paramedic ran into the face of danger six times to make sure the little girl made it back to her mum.

Michael Formica raced into the burning building time after time to help a family he’d never met before and risking his own life to save a mother, her child and their beloved dogs.

Now the heroic actions of the Gayndah paramedic faced with that horror scene has earned him a bravery award.

Michael Formica was in Toowoomba on September 10 2019, when he spotted smoke billowing from a Harristown home.

A candle ignited a fire in the sunroom of the house, quickly spreading to the lounge, kitchen and into the roof.

Mr Formica could hear screaming from inside the building and despite being off-duty, he immediately entered the house through the back door where he found a woman and took her outside.

Speaking to theSouth Burnett Times in 2019, he told of the harrowing moments during the blaze.

“(The mother) was inconsolable and could hardly speak, but managed to tell me that her eight-year-old daughter was still inside,” he said.

Mr Formica re-entered the building another five times to locate the terrified little girl.

He crawled along the floor among the heavy, thick smoke and managed to pull two dogs from the house who had been trapped from the fire.

After suffering from smoke inhalation, both Mr Formica and the mother were vomiting black soot.

Knowing he only had one more attempt left, he spotted the young girl in the garage and guided her out to be reunited her with her mother.

Now, Mr Formica will be formally recognised for his bravery.

He will be one of just six Queenslanders to receive a Silver Bravery Medal from The Royal Humane Society of Australasia at a ceremony in Brisbane this year, and the only silver medal recipient.

The medals will be presented by Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner at a ceremony on Friday, May 20.