Young hero speaks about saving woman from fire — Watch the video of the house burning

The young Elspark hero smiles shyly when asked about the day he saved a woman from burning to death.

Jeandré Potgieter (14), is humble and modest about rescuing the woman from a burning house in Warbler Street, Elspark, last Saturday.

The GCN broke the story online on www.germistoncitynews.co.za on the day the fire took place and caught up with Jeandré on Wednesday.

By that time, the youngster was still not really thinking about his act as heroic.

The Grade Nine Hoërskool Oosterlig pupil tells the tale of his heroics in a matter-of-fact way.

“We got a call on the CPF radio and my grandfather Corrie, uncle Cornel and I responded,” said Jeandré.

The household are members of the Elspark/Freeway Park CPF.

“When we got there, a woman next door shouted that there were people in the house.

“My grandfather and uncle tried to break through the gate but they couldn’t.”

The next thing, Corrie said, Jeandré was over the wall and was running to the front of the house.

“The entire front of the house was in flames and Jeandré then ran around the back,” Corrie said.

Jeandré takes up the story again.

“I ran into the kitchen and saw a woman standing there in the smoke.

“I grabbed her and then dragged her out.”

Cornel ran to assist Jeandré and then Corrie took the woman across the road and covered her up with his jacket as he said she was ice cold.

By this time firefighters and paramedics from the Wadeville Fire Station had responded, as well as paramedics from Netcare 911.

Both the woman and Jeandré were treated on scene for smoke inhalation and then transported to hospital – Jeandré to Sunward Park Hospital and the woman to OR Tambo Memorial Hospital for further care.

Jeandré suffers from asthma, but luckily with quick treatment for the smoke inhalation he was released from hospital soon after his admittance and went straight back to the scene of the fire.

The young man loves helping people and hopes one day to become a paramedic.

“I feel good about saving her life,” he said.

“I like to help people and have managed to collect clothes for the family affected by the fire.”

“Even though it was not safe to go into the house, I would do it again to save her.”

Corrie said that Jeandré likes to be involved in the community, especially with regard to the CPF, and would love it if someone would sponsor Jeandré his own CPF radio so he can get CPF alerts himself, although he is only allowed to respond to scenes with Corrie or his Cornel.

The woman who was saved by Jeandré was arrested by the Elsburg SAPS on Wednesday.

She was detained at the Elsburg Police Station and appeared in the Germiston Magistrates Court on Thursday, to face a charge of arson and was released on free bail.

She is due to appear in court again soon.

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Young boy saves woman from burning Elspark home