7-yr-old playing at home late night heard ‘beeping noise’—what she did next saved an 88-year-old from a 'scary' situation
Vigilance is not just for parents or adults but for every person. There are so many unpredictable events and before every other intervention, vigilance impacts the outcome of the situation. A 7-year-old girl named Lucy Heyes was alert enough to hear a “beeping noise” when she was playing in her home in Darwen Road, Bromley Cross, England, The Bolton News reported. As soon as she heard the unusual sound, she was pushed to call it out and act instantly. Her sharp instinct initiated a timely intervention that saved the life of 88-year-old Joyce Forrest.
Lucy was at home with her parents, Katy Anderson and Jonny Steen, as well as her three-year-old sister, Libby and two-week-old brother, Lewis. The family was getting ready for bed around 11 pm when the little girl heard the sound. Recalling how the event took place, she said, “I was sitting in the corner of my room playing on my iPad and I smelled a lot of smoke. Then I heard a beeping sound from the fire alarm,” she said. Her immediate instinct was to alert her parents. The couple decided to investigate and were terrified at what they saw. “When we went downstairs, we couldn’t believe how thick the smoke was. It was really scary and I could see the fire getting bigger and bigger,” the mom recalled.
An electric fireplace caused the mishap and before they knew it, the terrace on the house next door was in flames. Inside the home lived their neighbor, 88-year-old Forrest and the parents knew they had to act fast. “We didn’t even think twice about getting the lady out,” Anderson said. Calling it an "instinct" to react, they went into the home and helped get the elderly woman out safely. Another neighbor, whose identity remains anonymous, offered additional help by using his personal fire extinguisher to put out as much fire as possible. “We carried her into our house and looked after her before the ambulance arrived,” the mom explained.
The ambulance and firefighters arrived on scene and were able to put out the fire. However, it was the quick alert from the 7-year-old that initiated a life-saving rescue before it was too late. Speaking of how her 7-year-old ended up becoming a hero, the mom noted that it was a coincidence that she was awake to begin with. “Lucy wouldn’t normally have been up at that time, but it was Boxing Day and the kids were really excited about their presents. It's a good thing she really was,” she said.
Commending her, she added, “If it wasn’t for Lucy, I really don’t think that things would have turned out as well as they did, because Jonny and I didn’t hear or smell a thing from our room.” The Crew manager, Gary Charnock from Bolton North, said, “We were called to Darwen Road at about 11.06 pm to a house fire which started where the electric fireplace was. An elderly lady was carried safely to a neighbour’s house thanks to a brave little girl who raised the alarm.” The 7-year-old was just delighted to be of assistance. “I looked after my brother and sister while mum and Jonny helped the lady. When I looked out the window, a fireman put his thumbs up to me to say. ‘Well done,’" little Lucy remarked.
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