Pride of Australia: Blaze bravery tinged with sadness

LUKE Williams and Matt Armstrong saw the house in flames, jumped the front fence and acted without hesitation once they heard the voices inside.

Pride of Australia nominees left: Luke Williams and Matt Armstrong kicked down a front door, ran into a burning house and rescued two children and their grandmother in Newcomb last October. They are our first nominees in the 2015 Pride of Australia awards. Though they rescued those people, another child died. picture: Glenn Ferguson

LUKE Williams and Matt Armstrong saw the house in flames, jumped the front fence and acted without hesitation once they heard the voices inside.

They kicked the door open and despite blinding smoke and fierce crackle of a building being consumed, found a grandmother and two young children.

On learning another child was in the house, they smashed windows trying to get in, but the intensity of the blaze held them back.

Though their actions saved three lives from the fire in the Geelong suburb of Newcomb in October, Dimitrious Cassels, 13, died.

Mr Williams and Mr Armstrong, both 21, were on a break from their jobs as apprentice butchers.

They show a mix of sadness and quiet pride in the knowledge they did all they could.

Their response has earnt them nominations for bravery in the 2015 Pride of Australia awards.

“We sort of looked at each other and said we probably should run over and see if anyone’s in there,” Mr Williams said.

Mr Armstrong said: “Because I’ve had to deal with many different emotions with people and myself I’ve learnt how to deal with things I never thought I could do.”

Do you know a local legend? Nominate deserving unsung heroes for a Pride of Australia award at heraldsun.com.au/prideofaustralia

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