Schoolgirls honoured after saving OAP from house fire

A TRIO of schoolgirls who rescued a pensioner from his blazing home – saving his life by a matter of minutes – are set to be commended for their bravery.

Emma Stuart, 12, Ellie Rye, 12, and Lauren Jackson, 17, helped 74-year-old William McCall to safety after a fire broke out in the kitchen of his South Queensferry home. Mr McCall, of Arrol Place, was confused and unaware that his kitchen was ablaze.

The girls will each receive a new Brave@Heart Award in recognition of their courage at a ceremony hosted by First Minister Alex Salmond at Edinburgh Castle on 9 June.

They are among 50 Scots selected by an independent panel to receive an award after being put forward by blue light services and rescue organisations.

Several of them will also be given the St Andrew's Award for their exceptional bravery.

Mr Salmond announced the new bravery awards at Alex Kirkwood & Sons in Edinburgh, where the St Andrew's Award medals will be made, yesterday.

Emma and Ellie had been making their way home from Queensferry High School in January when they were distracted by the faint sound of a smoke alarm from Mr McCall's home.

Ellie, of Almond Grove, said: "We weren't sure at first where it was coming from, but worked out it was from his house. Then we could hear an almost popcorn-style noise, which was his kitchen windows breaking."

Emma, of Whitehead Grove, added: "We were about to go up to the door when we saw Lauren, so we shouted her over."

Lauren, of Rosebery Avenue, rushed up the street to the house and rang the door bell.

She said: "There was black smoke everywhere but the door wasn't locked, so I opened it. The man was in the hall and seemed confused, thinking I was a relative. He asked me to come in, but I told him he had to get out. I got his hand and helped him out, closing the door and then calling 999."

Of those selected to receive a Brave@Heart Award, 26 are emergency service staff and 24 are members of the public.

Prestonpans resident Donald Falconer, 64, rescued his elderly neighbour from a burning house, crawling through the smoke-filled property to get to him. He will also receive an award for his bravery.

Other award recipients will include William Lammie, 53, who helped to rescue an injured passenger from a burning car following a horrific car crash on Harburn Road in West Calder, in which the driver died.

Gary Fairbairn, 39, Dunbar RNLI lifeboat coxswain, helped to rescue two people on board a disabled yacht in severe weather conditions, while Alexander Cowan, 62, from Edinburgh, tried to intervene when a group of around 20 youths were harassing and provoking someone, but was assaulted himself.

Paul Nicholson, 41, from East Lothian, helped a police officer who was struggling to stop a man who had been involved in a robbery by holding him until the officer could handcuff him.

Allan Gilroy, 24, from Edinburgh, witnessed an attack on a man and helped him to safety.

Mr Salmond said: "Scotland should be proud of its heroes and recognise their achievements."