Boys, 10 and 11, brave flames to rescue toddlers

Young heroes in the US

One boy is 11 and the other is a year younger.

But the duo showed the kind of bravery not normally associated with children - they rescued two toddlers from a mobile home on fire.

The incident happened in Florida's Orange County on Tuesday morning.

Ten-year-old Isiah Francis told local TV station WFTV that when he saw the blaze in a neighbour's home, he called the emergency services first.

He then ran into the mobile home and tried to help the two toddlers - one a year old and the other just eight months old - escape.

Isiah's friend, Jeremiah Grimes, 11, ran into the home afterwards to help Isiah.

Isiah said: "I was trying to get those little kids out. I was nervous because there was so much smoke.

"It was hard for me to see and all that. I was freaking out trying to get the babies out before they got hurt or something happened. I found my way outside and I took the two kids to my house."

Jeremiah told wesh.com: "We looked out the window and saw flames coming out of the house. (It was) really hot.

"I was just thinking, 'Stay calm, keep your mind straight, stay focused on what you're doing.'"

"That was what any one person would have done to... kids in danger, you just help them."

The child heroes said that when they went inside the home, they could hardly see anything.

Residents and family members told Channel 9 that they were grateful for the boys and their actions.

Said Isiah's uncle Michael Francis: "He's got a great future ahead of him."

Added the boy: "It feels good. It feels really good."

HAPPY

Jeremiah said he is happy that he saved two lives.

He said: "Probably if no one did that, them two would probably be dead or seriously injured. I'm happy. As long as everyone is okay, I'm happy."

Firefighters rescued another two children, aged two and five, who were still inside the home.

One was taken to hospital by helicopter. They were both in critical but stable condition, Mail Online reported.

According to reports, there was also a man in the home. Fire officials believe the fire started in the kitchen, but the cause has not been determined.

This article was first published on June 19, 2015.
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