A neighbour has been called a hero for saving a mum and two kids from a massive blaze at their home by putting down a mattress so they could jump onto it from a window.
Clidford Saint Jean’s quick-thinking was praised by the Boston Fire Department, in the United States, as he dragged an old mattress to provide a soft landing for the family who lived next door to him in a duplex.
First a five-year-old girl was dropped by her mother and caught by Mr Saint Jean before a teenager and the mum jumped down to safety, last Saturday, in the Roslindale area of Boston.
Boston Fire Department tweeted: "A heroic job by the next door neighbor to save a mother and her 2 children who were trapped on the 2nd floor by heavy fire at the 3 alarm fire on Delford St. He put a mattress down for them to jump as he caught the 5 year old that the mother dropped out the window to him.”
In total there were five adults and four children who were evacuated from the duplex.
Mr Saint Jean, an Uber driver, recalled how he thought about using an old mattress.
“First thing come to my mind. So take the mattress and then, you know, put it down there and then tell them come on,” he told WCVB.
And then he had to encourage the family to jump.
“I tell them ‘don’t be scared. The fire, the fire will hurt you guys,'” Saint Jean recalled to the Boston Globe.
While he has been described as a hero, he said was just doing what comes naturally.
“When that happens everyone is supposed to get scared, but when you see fire, people in the fire, you know what the fire means [for them],” he told the Boston Globe. “I saved a life, but I don’t feel like a hero.”
Images from the scene showed huge orange flames rising from the duplex on the first and second floors.
Boston Fire Department tweeted: “5 adults and 4 children were displaced by the fire at 10-12 Delford St. BFD-FIU is on scene investigating v the cause of the fire. Damages estimated at 1 million dollars.”
Many people took to social media to praise Mr Saint Jean.
One person tweeted: “Everyday heroes don’t wear capes. Some don’t even wear a uniform. God bless this hero.”
Another wrote: “I’m glad everyone is safe. What a great and quick thinking neighbour.”
