Neighbour recalls desperate attempt to save woman from fatal fire which claimed her husband's life
A courageous neighbour has saved a Brisbane woman from a house fire, but couldn't reach her partner who perished in the blaze.
Residents have told reporters of the chaos as the Acacia Ridge home was engulfed in flames about 10pm yesterday.
"I got woken up, got told the house was on fire, raced over and raced in got the lady out," neighbour Mick Schmidt told 9News.
"I went back to try and get the old fella out but the flames just pushed me back."
Mr Schmidt said he was shaken by the incident. Nine
Mr Schmidt, 56, rescued 71-year-old Josie Reid from the home but was beaten back when he returned for her 72-year-old husband Ricky.
Mr Schmidt said he was "shook up" over the incident which left him with minor injuries.
"I know Ricky and Josie very well and I just raced straight over, straight into the front door looking for Josie first off," he said.
Neighbours tried desperately to save both Ricky and Josie from the blaze. Supplied
Mr Schmidt said it was hard to come to terms with only saving Josie.
He is refusing to be called a "hero" despite his selfless actions.
"If I would've got Ricky out, then I'd say yes to being a hero, other than that I just did what any normal Australian person would do for their fellow man. That's all it is," he said.
Mr Schmidt suffered minor burns to his hands and was taken to hospital. Nine
"What else can you do but try?"
Another neighbourhood resident and friend of Mr Schmidt, Tony Williams, agreed saying any decent Australian would have done the same.
"You see someone in trouble you jump in, you don't worry about the consequences until later," Mr Williams said.
"Without him I suppose there would have been no survivors in there."
QFES officer Daniel Rasmussen, who attended the scene overnight, said when firefighters arrived the residents were desperately trying to put the fire out.
Mr Schmidt said the neighbourhood came running with hoses and fire extinguishers.
"Everyone was running around trying to put the fire out," resident Dean Hollis told the ABC.
Police have declared a crime scene while investigators work to determine what caused the blaze. Nine
"We put it out twice but it just kept igniting all the time."
Police have established a crime scene as experts work to determine the cause of the fire.
Mr Schmidt, 56, and Josie were both taken to hospital in a stable condition.
Mr Schmidt was treated for his burns, and Ms Reid for respiratory issues.
"He continued to try and extinguish the fire and rescue the other occupant of the house. In doing so, he has sustained some minor burns," a QFES spokesman told the ABC.
Neighbours said the couple had lived in the home for about 15 years and were well known in the community.
- Reported with AAP
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