AAP General News (Australia)
08-21-2001
Vic: Man who saved woman from burning flat denies hero status
By Darrin Barnett
MELBOURNE, Aug 21 AAP - A man who smashed the door of a neighbour's burning flat before
dragging her to safety today, has denied he was a hero.
Nick Levidis, 54, is in line for a bravery award after using a brickie's hammer to
break down the door of the woman's flat in Smith Street at St Kilda, set ablaze early
today by a burning candle.
"About three o'clock in the morning I was watching TV when I heard this lady screaming
- I thought it was someone having a fight," Mr Levidis told AAP.
"It just kept going and I walked out and there was all this smoke. I realised her flat
was on fire.
"This guy had a hammer there, and I started smashing the lock because she couldn't open it."
Mr Levidis hit the lock "eight or nine times" before it gave way, then had to kick
in the door because the woman had a safety chain attached to her front door.
"I got into the flat and couldn't see her at first because of all the smoke," he said.
"It took me about three goes, in and out, then I saw her leg, grabbed her by the foot
and dragged her out."
The 35-year-old woman was taken by ambulance to The Alfred hospital, where she is listed
in a serious condition with burns to about 25 per cent of her body.
"I didn't realise it was so serious at the time, but later on I did," Mr Levidis said.
"Do I think I'm a hero?, No, no way known. I heard her screaming and it was just a
normal reaction.
"I reckon anyone, if they were in the same position, would have done it, yeah."
Metropolitan Fire Brigade Acting Inspector, Trevor Lynch-Whild said it was likely Mr
Levidis would be nominated for a bravery award.
Mr Lynch-Whild said there was no smoke detector in the woman's room, and the two detectors
in the hallway outside the unit did not work because the batteries were installed the
wrong way around.
AAP db/gfr/ldj/de
KEYWORD: ST KILDA
2001 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.
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