An Auckland man launched into action as soon as he heard desperate cries for help to save a woman from a burning house.
Mt Roskill resident Victor Manua pulled a paralysed elderly woman from her smoke-filled bedroom this afternoon after she became trapped.
He told the Herald he is still processing the rescue.
Manua said he was heading to his Bremner Ave home after spending the afternoon helping out at a newly-opened community gym when he noticed smoke billowing out of a neighbour’s house.
“There was a lady just screaming out for help,” he said.
“I asked her, ‘Is there anyone in the house?’ and she said there’s an old lady in there.”
Manua said he abandoned his car in the middle of the road and rushed inside, where the fire had already begun spreading from the kitchen toward the bedrooms.
“It was already smoky and the mum was still lying in bed while the fire was getting bigger and bigger,” he said.
“There were two other people there, but they couldn’t lift her, so I just grabbed the old lady, put her in the wheelchair, wrapped her in a blanket and took her out the house.”
Video captured shortly after the rescue shows large flames and thick black smoke surging from the roof of the home.
“My adrenaline was high,” Manua said.
He estimated the rescue took less than two minutes.
“The fire spread really quick and I got there just in time.
“It could have been a different story because if the house was fully in flames, I don’t think she would have made it.”
Fire and Emergency New Zealand said they were called to the blaze about 4.20pm.
Five fire engines were sent to the scene and arrived to find the single-level home “well involved” with fire in the roof of the property.
Manua said instinct took over the moment he heard the desperate cries outside the burning home.
“If you hear that lady’s voice screaming for help, I don’t think I can turn that down. I don’t think you’re going to turn away from that.”
Manua said the woman’s daughter and granddaughter later thanked him for rescuing her.
“I was just speechless to be honest. I didn’t want to stay there too long. I just asked if everyone else was all right, then left.
“I’m just grateful I could help.
“I’ve done a lot of stupid things in the past, why not do something stupid but a good stupid?”
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