LIFE SAVERS

Three 12-year-olds helped fire crew rescue man when they heard a smoke alarm going off.. but risked a ticking-off for staying out late

- HEATHER GREENAWAY

SCHOOLKIDS Melissa Watson, Teagan Ramsay and Drae Martin have been hailed as heroes after helping save a man from a burning flat last year.

The quick-thinking 12-year-olds leapt into action last October when they heard a smoke detector going off in a building in the Borders town of Galashiels.

They rushed inside to investigate and after identifying the flat where the detector was sounding they tried to alert the occupier by banging on the door.

When the trio failed to get a response, they went to the flat next door and asked the neighbour to call the fire service.

They then went out to the roadside and waited to direct the firefighters.

Without their assistance, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said the man could have been seriously injured or lost his life and the fire could have escalated and endangered the lives of everyone living in the flats.

Their brave act has earned the inspirational first-year Galashiels Academy pupils a Pride of Scotland nomination in the Children of Courage category.