Brave girl honoured for fire rescue

Sophie Morgan

A girl aged 13 who put her own life at risk to save six friends who were severely injured in an explosion has been commended by the fire service for her bravery.

Aimee Dempsey was honoured with a Chief Fire Officers Commendation, which is the highest fire service award a member of the public can win for displaying life saving bravery.

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The children were caught in the explosion that burned their faces and heads after one of them poured a highly flammable liquid onto garden waste they were burning in a bin at Edlington, Doncaster.

Aimee ignored burns to her own face and arms and took action to help another child who was still on fire, rolling them on the ground to put out the flames.

She also pushed the burning bin off another of the children and shouted safety instructions to the rest of the group.

Aimee was presented with her certificate at a ceremony at South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue's Edlington fire station.

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Presenting the award, Assistant Chief Fire Officer Jamie Courtney said: “Our normal advice to people in the event of a fire is to get out, stay out and call for our services. However, we realise that in exceptional circumstances, acts of bravery from members of the public, like Aimee, are appropriate.

“Its therefore important to come together as a community to recognise those actions and that’s why it gives me enormous pleasure to present Aimee with the Chief Fire Officer’s Commendation for her brave and selfless actions on the day in question.”

Firefighters from Edlington Red Watch who were the first emergency crew on the scene, were also awarded certificates of appreciation.

Aimee’s mother, Simone Dempsey, said: “I don’t think she fully appreciates how brave she was that day, but for her actions to be recognised in this way has been truly amazing.”

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