‘Firefighters came to my rescue and now I can repay their work’
AMAN who survived a house fire when he was a young child has praised the firefighters who rescued him and fundraised to give something back.
Mathew Rooney was just eight years old when his family home in Govan was involved in a fire after the blaze began in the property below.
The experience and the bravery of the firefighters who rescued him and his family had a lasting impact on the now 37-year-old.
Mathew said: “I remember the house filling up with smoke, it was the old Govan tenements in Kintra Street. Me, my mum, dad and two brothers were trying to get out and opened the close door but it resulted in more smoke coming into the house.
“We made our way into the living room and the next thing I remember is the firefighters grabbing us and taking us down the ladders. Then I was taken into the ambulance. The whole thing felt like it lasted around an hour or two but it was only about seven minutes.”
Ever since the traumatic incident, Mathew, from Linthouse, has dreamed of becoming a firefighter and has spent several years volunteering with the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) Heritage Trust.
Recently, Mathew tackled a 356-mile walk over the month of September in aid of the SFRS’s Family Support Trust, a charity which provides support to firefighters and their families - including financial assistance and respite accommodation.
On September 11, he walked from Edinburgh’s McDonald Road fire station to Glasgow’s Govan fire station.
Mathew said: “When I got to Govan Town Hall the tears were streaming down my face.”
He has also completed a trek from Govan to Balloch and raised £285 due to his efforts.
Mathew said: “Becoming a firefighter is my dream job - and hopefully one day I’ll get to do that.”
While many have been full of admiration for his efforts, for Mathew, it is the charity workers themselves who deserve all the credit.
He said: “The charity does amazing work... to me, I just walked. Sometimes it was nice and easy but other times I was in tears because of how sore my legs were.
“It’s good to be able to help in any way I can especially because charities are struggling just now due to the pandemic and lack of funding.
“Govan fire station is very special to me because it was crews from that station who rescued me from the fire.
“I have massive respect for everyone involved with the fire service – and not just the firefighters,.”