THEafternoon seemed perfectly normal to Junior Afuie, until the gas heater exploded.
Then, within minutes, his family’s home in Westmoreland Rd, Sunshine North, became an inferno.
But Junior’s fast action in those few minutes saved his two nieces – Shania-Lee, then five-years-old, and Kaitlin, just six months.
A little more than two years later, 20-year-old Junior will receive a commendation for brave conduct from Australia’s Governor-General.
“It was the freakiest thing that has ever happened to me,” Junior said.
The Victoria University business management student, now living in St Albans, recalled getting Shania-Lee out of the house first and seriously injuring his left hand rescuing Kaitlin.
Junior’s mum had popped out for a short while, leaving him to baby-sit.
Kaitlin was peacefully sleeping in the front room and had been so quiet Junior had almost forgotten she was there.
He tried turning the front door handle to get back inside to save Kaitlin, but scorched his hand.
Adrenalin pumping, he smashed the glass window to the front room, cutting tendons in his hand as went.
The young hero said the fire spread so quickly that he had no time to think about what to do, he just had to do it.
Junior had an operation two years ago to hopefully get feeling back in his hand. He still has no feeling in his thumb, index and middle fingers.
Firefighters attending the fire had praised Junior for his actions.
While official recognition of his bravery is welcome, it’s small reward compared to being able to watch his two young nieces grow up.
