Dartford teenager scoops bravery award for rescuing disabled brother from house fire (From News Shopper)

Dartford teenager Robert Noubime scoops bravery award for rescuing disabled brother from house fire

11:32am Tuesday 25th September 2012 in News By Tim MacFarlan, Bexley and north Kent reporter

A DARTFORD schoolboy whose "exceptional bravery" helped save his disabled brother from a house fire has been honoured.

Robert Noubime, 13, was an award-winner at the Kent Fire and Rescue Service Awards 2012 held in Maidstone on Monday (September 24).

The Lee Technology Academy pupil was only 12 in November last year when his Mum Josephine smelt burning at their home in Nursery Close.

The teenager dashed upstairs to find smoke coming from his mother's room.

He said: "My natural instinct was to close the door straight away so the fire wouldn't get further."

Caused by a candle tipping over, the blaze threatened Robert's wheelchair-bound brother Jean-Paul Midera, 23, in the next room.

Acting just as he was taught in a primary school fire safety lesson, Robert helped his Mum get Jean-Paul into a wheelchair and outside, before smashing the glass on their home fire alarm.

He then calmly gave firefighters clear directions when they arrived, leading to a certificate of commendation for "exceptional bravery in helping to rescue his brother."

He told News Shopper: "It was very scary but from what I have been told at school it was natural to do what I did."

Also recognised was Gravesend firefighter Ross Allen and fellow crew members for helping rescue a man who was dangling from a bridge in the town when they arrived at the scene.

The 34-year-old from Westfield Close, was strapped to a fire engine and lowered down to the man, who was being saved from falling only by a group of desperate policemen.

After a colleague told the man: "don't worry sunshine, we've got you", Mr Allen made sure of it by talking him down from his suicide bid.

He said: "We had to go back to old firemanship skills.

"As far as I'm concerned we did what we are there to do.

"It's part and parcel of the job."