Leading Firefighter Jim Cooper has been labelled a hero for saving a young girl’s life. 84698 Picture: JOE MASTROIANNI
By XAVIER SMERDON
A HOPPERS Crossing firefighter is being praised as a hero after he saved a seven-year-old girl from an inferno last week.
Leading Firefighter Jim Cooper’s heart was racing when he arrived on the scene of a house fire in Hoppers Crossing on the night of Sunday 22 July.
His mind wandered to his own children, knowing there was a young girl trapped inside the burning house.
“My mindset was on the fact that there was a seven-year-old child trapped in the house and that made me even more determined to get there and make the rescue,” Mr Cooper told Star.
“I have a six-year-old daughter and a seven-year-old son, so thinking about them gave me an adrenalin rush to get the job done.”
Senior Station Officer of the Hoppers Crossing Fire Brigade, Steve Attard, and Mr Cooper arrived on the scene first about 8pm.
Mr Attard described his fellow firefighter’s actions as extremely brave.
“The outcome of the fire could have been a lot worse if it wasn’t for the quick actions of Leading Firefighter Jim Cooper,” Mr Attard said.
“Leading Firefighter Cooper followed his gut instinct and did what had to be done.”
The cause of the fire is still being investigated but a Victoria Police spokesperson said it was currently being treated as suspicious.
Detective Senior Constable Troy Morrow from the Werribee Crime Investigation Unit also praised Mr Cooper’s bravery.
“The firefighter who saved the young girl did a really good job and he checked every room very quickly,” Det Sen Const Morrow said.
“It had the potential to be very dangerous and it could have been a lot worse. It was a really hectic evening.”
But Mr Cooper said he did not consider himself a hero.
“It’s pretty clichéd but anyone would have done the same thing if they were in my shoes,” he said.
“What I did was something that anyone else would have done.”
The young girl was treated at the scene by paramedics.
Mr Attard said the incident served as a timely reminder for people to make sure their smoke alarms were properly maintained and contained fresh batteries.
