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Benjamin Brook (20) and Jamie Brook (19) with their Royal Humane Testimonials Award, pictured alongside Supt Simon Ovens (middle) at the New Scotland Yard ceremony |
Cousins’ bravery honoured at Scotland Yard ceremony
Cousins broke through two doors to rescue elderly woman from blaze
TWO cousins who saved an elderly woman from a blaze in Regent’s Park have been recognised for exceptional bravery.
Brave Benjamin Brook, 20, and his cousin Jamie, 19, from St John’s Wood, were awarded the Royal Humane Society Testimonials on Vellum on Tuesday in an award ceremony at New Scotland Yard.
The award is reserved for people who risk their lives for others.
They had spotted a fire starting in a house in the Outer Circle of Regent’s Park on Christmas night 2005.
They braved toxic smoke, exploding windows and heat to save the elderly woman from certain death.
“It was a decent thing to do,” said Benjamin Brook who lives in Carlton Hill.
Mr Brook, who was in the Combined Cadet Force and wanted to be a marine as a teenager, said: “We were driving home with our family when we saw a curtain smoking by a Christmas tree. We stopped the car and just ran over there and rang on the bell but there was no answer. So we kicked it down.
“Inside the heat was causing glass to fire out at us. We had to dodge it – which was quite fun. There was thick smoke everywhere.”
We rushed to the top of the house and banged on another door. No one answered so Jamie kicked it down. It was much stronger than the other door – it had eight locks on the inside. Smoke billowed out and an old lady rushed through the doorway – which was a bit of a shock because we thought the flat was empty. The old lady said she hadn’t been able to open the door.”
He added: “I’m pretty happy with the award. We were the only people there who weren’t police officers. That made me realise it was a decent thing to do.”
Both were taken to hospital suffering smoke inhalation.
Benjamin’s mother Janet Brook, who was driving the family home on Christmas day, said: “If I’d known what they were doing I would have told them ‘don’t go – wait for the fire brigade’.
“He was in the Combined Cadet Force at school and he always wanted to be a marine.”
Supt Simon Ovens, Royal Parks OCU commander, nominated the cousins for the award.
He said: “I would like to take this opportunity to praise the actions of these two brave young men. They entered a burning building with no regard for their own safety, and helped residents to safety.”
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