FIREMEN IN BREATHING APPARATUS ARRIVE AT BONLLWYN TO TACKLE THE BLAZE

ANDREW HOWELLS

KICKED DOWN DOOR TO SAVE PENSIONERS

TWO teenage boys kicked down the door of a blazing Ammanford house to rescue an elderly couple from their beds.

Simon Roberts and Andrew Howells, both aged 18, were on their way home at 2 a.m. after a Saturday night out when they saw smoke and flames coming from 46 Bonllwyn.

Andrew ran to telephone the fire brigade, while Simon kicked in the front door, rushed upstairs and shouted to rouse sleeping pensioners John and Brenda Davies.

“The smoke was too thick for me to breathe. I had to come back down again and wrap a jumper round my face,” said Simon of 55 Llwyn Y Bryn.

Hr climbed the stairs again and was able to carry Mrs. Davies (61) to safety. “I saw Mr. Davies coming down the stairs. He was in bad shock and I had to push him down and out into the street. His son, Hywel, had already got out and was waiting there,” said Simon.

Andrew, of 56 Bonllwyn, had run next door to wake his grandmother. “The fire looked like it might jump next door and we were afraid it might catch,” said Simon.

Ammanford firemen arrived at the house and took three quarters of an hour to get the blaze under control. Forensic scientists are still trying to find out what caused the fire.

“The blaze started in the kitchen, but we have mo idea what happened,” said Mr. Davies.

“We are waiting for the insurance man and until then we are staying with friends,”

Mr. And Mrs. Davies praised the two boys for their action. “If they had not been passing by I don't know what would have happened,” said Mr. Davies (67).

“They rescued us both from our beds, there's no doubt about it they are very brave. They are heroes,” said his wife.

STORY:
OENONE STILL

PHOTO:
PETER EVANS

REPORT 1

PRAISED FOR HIS GREAT COURAGE

BRAVE YOUTH IS HONOURED

BRAVE teenager Simon Roberts was to be honoured yesterday (Wednesday) for his part in a dramatic late night rescue.

Simon (19) of 7a, College Street, Ammanford , kicked down the door of a blazing house to rescue an elderly couple from their beds.

Chief Fire Officer Ronnie King said this week: “Mr. Roberts showed great courage by putting his own life at risk when carrying out the rescue.”

Simon Roberts and his friend Andrew Howells were on their way home late on July 5 when they saw smoke and flames coning from 46, Bonllwyn.

Andrew Howells of 56 Bonllwyn, went to phone for help while Simon kicked in the door to the house but was forced back by heat and smoke.

He wrapped a jumper around his head and made a second attempt.

He found Mr. John Davies and guided him to safety and then returned to find Mrs. Brenda Davies asleep in the bedroom. He carried her down to safety.

The house was well alight the whole of the building was smoke filled,” said a fire spokesman.

At County Hall, Carmarthen, yesterday, Simon Roberts, and RAF driver at Brawdy, was due to receive a certificate and medal from The Society for the Protection of Life from Fire.

REPORT 2

THE COURAGE of Ammanford teenager Simon Roberts was honoured at County Hall, Carmarthen, last week.

Nineteen-year old Simon, of 7a College Street, entered a blazing house last July to save an elderly couple from their beds.

To commemorate the occasion, he was presented with a certificate and medal from the Society for the Protection of Life from Fire.

The presentation was made by Cllr. Basil Woodruff, chairman of Dyfed County Council's public protection committee.

Describing the rescue to the committee, Dyfed's chief fire officer, Mr. Ronnie King, said Simon and his friend, Andrew Howells, were on their way home when they saw smoke and flames coming from 46 Bonllwyn.

After being forced back by heat and smoke, Simon re-entered the house with a jumper over his head to rescue John and Brenda Davies

STORY:
OENONE
STILL

PHOTO:
RALPH
CARPENTER