By NICOLE VALICEK
AN UNCLE is being hailed a hero after saving his young nephew from a fire which destroyed the family home in Laverton.
Eleven-year old Samuel was rescued by his uncle Mwamba, when it was discovered he was still asleep inside the home as it became engulfed in flames.
The Woods St home was ablaze when the Metropolitan Fire Brigade was called about 1.40am last Monday.
Neighbours reported hearing screaming and seeing large flames shooting from the house.
Mwamba had escaped the blaze when he realised his nephew did not make it out.
The 30-year-old turned around, cutting himself as he smashed through a window to reach the child.
The family was safely outside the house when firefighters arrived.
Samuel thanked his uncle for saving him.
“I feel great to be alive,” he told Channel 9 News that morning.
Mwamba received minor burns and a small laceration to his arm and was treated by paramedics at the scene.
The blaze left the family of seven, who managed to evacuate after their smoke alarm alerted them to the fire, homeless.
The family has made their own emergency accommodation arrangements.
MFB communications controller Keith Robinson said the fire was brought under control in just over an hour.
Firefighters stayed on the scene overnight.
An MFB spokesperson said the cause of the fire was not suspicious, however it was still being investigated.
