Sean Williams, 17, awarded City of Adelaide Lions Club and South Australia Police 2024 Citizen of the Year
A teenager who saved a mother-of-three from a house fire has been awarded a top SA Police honour.
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A Murray Bridge schoolboy has been named the City of Adelaide Lions Club and South Australia Police 2024 Citizen of the Year after saving a woman from a house fire.
On the evening of Thursday February 22, emergency vehicles were called to a house on Lime Kiln Rd in Tailem Bend to find it completely engulfed in flames.
Then 16-year-old Sean Williams, who was in a car with his grandmother at the time, sprung to action, jumping out of the car after noticing the house on fire and rushing to save an unconscious woman from the flames.
The teenager, now 17, said he found the home’s occupant, 42-year-old mother of three Marilyn Hales, lying on the floor and after safely dragging her from the fire, went back to try to extinguish the fire with a garden hose.
“I wasn’t scared. I just did what I felt was right. Someone needed me and I hoped I could help them,” Sean said of his heroic actions.
“I never thought of myself as a hero or anything. I just did what everyone should do for members of their community.
“I am just glad she is okay, and I hope she is doing well.”
On Tuesday, SA Police announced Sean was the 2024 recipient of the City of Adelaide Lions Club and South Australia Police 2024 Citizen of the Year award, which he was presented with by Deputy Police Commissioner Linda Williams at a ceremony earlier in the day.
“Without any consideration for his own safety, Sean provided lifesaving assistance in hazardous circumstances,” Deputy Commissioner Williams said.
“He exhibits qualities we find in our own officers, including courage and initiative. Without his intervention, the woman may have perished in the fire.”
Police said the award, which started in 1979, has been given to a civilian who performs extraordinary voluntary assistance to SA Police during a significant event.
The award consists of an individual shield, perpetual shield, and framed citation outlining the nomination’s basis.
Sean’s mother Michelle said her son has “always been a super kind boy that puts others first” and that he had been taught that kindness can “turn someone’s day around”.
“In this case, it saved a life,” she said.
“We are all very happy for Sean and we know he wouldn’t hesitate to do the same thing again for someone else.”
City of Adelaide Lions Club President Andrew Stacey, who helped present the teen with the award, commended Sean for his quick-thinking last February.
“The City of Adelaide Lions Club is proud to again partner with SAPOL to award a member of the public who has heroically disregarded their own safety to help another,” he said.
“Each year we are impressed with the selflessness of individuals awarded and Sean is certainly deserving of this recognition.”
Nominations for the 2025 City of Adelaide Lions Club and South Australia Police Citizen of the Year award will open in July next year.
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Originally published as Sean Williams, 17, awarded City of Adelaide Lions Club and South Australia Police 2024 Citizen of the Year
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