Tathra bushfire: Hero’s dash to save elderly neighbour from burning home

AS Roland Boillat watched the fast-moving bushfires consume his neighbour’s Tathra home he suddenly had a funny feeling the elderly dementia patient might be still inside. He plunged into the burning building and found the 85-year-old still in bed. Watch the astounding footage from the scene.

BY the time the RFS sent out their warning at 3.49pm to the residents of Thompson Drive, David Neyle’s wife and sons had already fled.

“There was no warning that said we should consider evacuating,” Mr Neyle said.

The Bega Valley Shire Council official said it was obvious by 1.30pm that the situation was going to get dangerous.

He said they could see flames at Tarraganda, about a kilometre away and knew there was nothing but bush between there and Tathra.

Video shot by Tathra resident David Neyle shows the flames consuming several buildings as it moves in. Picture: David Neyle

Most of his neighbours packed up their cars and left down the only road into and out of Tathra.

Within 30 minutes, the RFS website said that the fire had moved closer to Kalaru, just over ridge behind their homes, but there was still no emergency warning, Mr Neyle said.

Locals said they had almost no time to evacuate because of poor phone reception in the area. Picture: David Neyle

David Neyle’s Thompson Drive Estate, gutted by fire. Picture: David Neyle

A destroyed car on the Thompson Drive Estate at Tathra, which sustained serious damage during the fire. Picture: David Neyle

He said they were lucky the road into Bega was still open as the fire ripped through Tathra.

Mr Neyle and neighbours including Roland Boillat stayed behind to hose down the houses and tried to save what they could.

As they saw flames coming from the eaves of one home, they feared the 85-year-old neighbour was still inside.

At least 70 buildings have been destroyed. Picture: David Neyle

Shannon Williams stands among the gutted buildings in Tathra. Picture: Gary Ramage

Mr Neyle and Roland Boillat (pictured) stayed behind to battle the blaze as it neared their homes. Picture: David Neyle

“Roland just had this feeling that someone was in the house,” Mr Neyle said.

“It was obvious the house was going to burn. Roland found the man asleep on his bed. He suffers from dementia.”

They managed to get him down into Tathra to safety.

He stayed all Sunday night as fires circled.

A car destroyed by the blaze in central Tathra. Picture: Gary Ramage

Tathra resident Julian Brown, fights a spot fire at his Dilkera Rd home. Picture: Gary Ramage

“The way the wind was blowing it was most bizarre. Thirty metres away houses were on fire but we were saved,” Mr Neyle said.

“It is like a moonscape today.

“There’s still quite a bit of activity. At one stage it was like a scene from a Vietnam movie with so many helicopters over.”