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A Royal Australian Navy clearance diver has been awarded a NSW Police Area Commander’s Commendation after saving the life of an elderly woman in a house fire earlier this year.
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Warrant Officer Christopher Wright was walking past a house in Balgowlah in Sydney’s north in April with his son when a smoke alarm alerted him to a house fire.
He acted immediately and entered the burning house to find 90-year-old Pat Andrews, who he carried outside to safety.
Then he went back inside, armed with a garden hose, and checked for more occupants.
He was able to douse most of the flames, except for a burning toaster, as firefighters and police arrived.
His courage and quick thinking earned WOFF Wright a NSW Police Area Commander’s Commendation.
Andrews told local media that she would probably have died if it wasn’t for the Navy diver who plucked her from her weatherboard house.
WOFF Wright, who has served as a bomb disposal technician in Afghanistan, said he appreciated the recognition.
“It was a great honour to receive the commendation from the police, who put themselves in harm’s way every day to save people in trouble,” he said.
