Coleman Fields' blaze hero Tony Shepherd praised for saving boy’s life

Published: 28th January, 2011
by TERRY MESSENGER

NEIGHBOURS hailed a have-a-go hero for saving the life of a boy trapped in a fire which raged through his grand­parents’ home yesterday afternoon (Thursday).

Tony Shepherd went to the rescue of the boy as he called  for help from inside the blazing house in Islington.

Mr Shepherd, 48, leapt over iron railings to get into a basement yard, where he smashed a window in a bid to reach the child but was beaten back by dense smoke.

He was able to direct firefighters wearing breathing apparatus to the boy, who was in a basement. 

Neighbour Lilly Fraser, 18, said: “We don’t think he would have made it without Tony. He smashed the window and let the smoke out and saved vital seconds by letting the fire brigade know exactly where to look.”

The fire, which broke out at about 2.30pm, severely damaged the house in Coleman Fields, off Prebend Street.

The boy, believed to be named Brendan and aged about four, was in the house with his grandparents, Mary and Julian Frederick. Mr Shepherd said: “I called out to the boy Brendan and he responded. He was very frightened but I told him the fire brigade was coming.

“The real heroes are the fire brigade. They went straight past me and did the job.”

Lib Dem councillor George Allan, a neighbour, said: “It seemed like an age but eventually they came out with the boy.”

The neighbours said they had been told by the authorities that the boy was “all right” after being airlifted to hospital.

His grandparents, who were trapped in the back garden and unable to help, were taken to hospital but are believed to be uninjured.