A brother and sister from Co Fermanagh have been praised as heroes after they alerted their grandmother to danger seconds before the car they were travelling in burst into flames.
In August of this year Adam and Chloe Sproule from Kesh were travelling with their grandmother Sandra on the Gillygooley Road near Omagh when the siblings smelt smoke coming from the car.
Their grandmother had had an operation on her nose which has affected her sense of smell. Just seconds after the siblings convinced their granny to stop and get out of the car, it burst into flames.
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Chloe and Adam had received training on how to detect fire from the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service at Kesh Primary School.
"All of a sudden I smelt smoke, the car started to slow down there was an exclamation light on the dash," Chloe told Belfast Live.
"That's when I realised that the car was going to go on fire after remembering what the fireman told me at school. I shouted at granny and my brother to get out of the car because it was going to go on fire.
"We got out and as soon as granny got out the engine went on fire. I felt a bit scared but I was glad we got out."
Adam added: "I was happy we got out before the car went on fire."
Their mum Christina said Chloe and Adam’s actions filled the family with pride.
“It’s only really hitting us now what could have actually happened that day,” Christina said.
“My mum was in a wee bit of shock but she was just so glad that the kids were able to be there with her as who knows what might have happened.
“We are just so proud of them and thankful to the fire service for providing the training.”
The NIFRS said Chloe and Adam’s quick thinking was vital
“We would like to say a big well done to Chloe and Adam Sproule from Kesh, County Fermanagh. They found themselves involved in a car fire in August but thanks to their situational awareness and quick thinking they prevented serious injury to themselves and others,” the NIFRS said in a statement.
“They alerted their Grandmother and recalled advice they had received from a Firefighter during a school talk - to pull over immediately, exit the car and look for a safe place to stand by as you call NIFRS.”
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