Watch: Youngsters recall brave house fire rescue

The Advertiser met with the three brave young heroes – Aiden Lemmetjies (20) and brothers, Jared (22) and Kyle Livingstine (20) – who selflessly risked their own lives to save an elderly couple and their dog from their burning house in Parkdene, on the morning of July 26.

Eric (89) and Marge (90) Heubner had lived in this house in Southvale Road, Parkdene, for about 56 years.

Next door neighbour, Aiden was woken up by his housekeeper who informed him about the house fire, just after 9am.

“The first thing I saw was flames and smoke coming from the house,” he said.

“We haven’t had any training in first aid or anything, but none of us thought about our own lives because we all knew it’s an elderly couple in the house and our main thing was just to help them.”

He ran outside and saw Kyle, who came from his house opposite the street to assist. They jumped the fence and tried to open the front door.

Watch the interview with the three heroes:

Kyle saw the house fire from their house’s window.

“There was too much smoke. We got the hosepipe and tried to water the fire in an attempt to tame it a little,” said Aiden.

According to Kyle, the whole kitchen was on fire when he entered the house.

For more photos visit the gallery: Parkdene house fire in pictures

They broke the security gate to the house so the firemen could go in.

“The dog (said to be a German shepherd) was scratching on the window of the main bedroom to get out because it had nowhere to go,” said Kyle.

“We smashed the window so the dog could exit the house; he was so terrified that he ran down the street and almost left the area.”

As soon as they had rescued the couple’s dog from the house, the roof collapsed and a piece of wood got into Kyle’s eye.

He was taken to hospital for treatment.

When Jared arrived on the property, he assisted wherever he could.

“There were quite a few of the other neighbours on the scene, trying to extinguish the fire,” he said.

They helped the elderly couple out of the house.

More photos in gallery: Parkdene house fire in pictures

“It was quite a struggle to keep them out the house because they just wanted to go back in and get as many possessions as they could. They were basically risking their lives,” said Jared.

“I remember the old lady saying to us that she doesn’t care if she dies, she wants her stuff. We literally had to keep them out by force.”

Jared explained how “Uncle Eric” tried to put out the fire in the backyard.

“The two of us were standing about two metres from a gas bottle that exploded. About ten minutes prior to the explosion I convinced him to come and stand outside in the front yard,” he said.

The three youngsters moved one of the Heubner’s vehicles to prevent it from catching fire.

However, they couldn’t find the key to the other car.

“There were four or five of us who pushed the car out,” said Jared.

By the time they got the vehicle out, the firemen were on scene and the youngsters let them take over.

“Everything happened so fast. Within 15 minutes the entire house burnt down,” said Aiden.

The following day (July 27), at around 8.30am, firefighters had to return to the house because it was steaming up again.

Aiden, Kyle and Jared said they were scared, but the adrenalin kept them going.

“We didn’t think of it – we just wanted to help,” said Kyle.

Aiden, Kyle and Jared attribute their bravery to Grant Strydom, one of the first paramedics on the scene, who guided them in what to do.

Unfortunately, Marge lost all her clothing in the fire.

* Anyone willing to donate number five shoes or size eight clothing (women’s) and toiletries to the couple may contact Yolandi van Tonder on 082 854 9448.

The Advertiser is awaiting a response from the Ekurhuleni Emergency Services about the fire.