‘Hero’ schoolboy Archie, 11, saves mother and brother from burning home

An 11-year-old Brighton boy has been hailed a hero by his family for getting them out of the house after their kitchen caught on fire.

Archie Miller, who goes to Dorothy Stringer school, had to shake his mum Charlotte and younger brother Wilfred, six, awake as they were already drowsy from the smoke filling the house in Princes Crescent in the early hours of Monday morning.

Now his proud mum wants everyone to know how incredible he is.

Charlotte Smart, 35, said: “Archie woke up to the smell of smoke filling the bedrooms above the kitchen and the fire alarms going off.

“Wilfred and I didn’t wake up because the smoke was already affecting us. Archie had to shake me awake and was screaming. I ran into a wall and tripped over a chair because the smoke was so thick.

“I got Wilfred and put him over my shoulder. We had to climb out of a third floor window onto a flat roof because the smoke was too thick to go downstairs.

“We stood there in our pants screaming for help, and our neighbour heard us and called 999. We climbed down into our neighbours garden, and the firefighters arrived and put out the fire.

“Archie was just incredible – if he hadn’t woken up and got us out I dread to think what would have happened.

“He also got his younger brother on the roof and helped him down. He’s a hero.”

The fire was started by a dishwasher which had been switched on as usual by Charlotte before the family went to bed.

Firefighters used two breathing apparatus and a hose reel jet to tackle the fire. They then used an industrial fan to clear the smoke.

The family were treated for smoke inhalation by paramedics at the scene.

Now, Charlotte, a learning and behaviour mentor at Hertford Infant School, is searching for a temporary home while the extensive smoke damage to the house is repaired.

Wilfred goes to Davigdor Infant School, and so the family is looking for a two bedroom home for at least the next month in a central location near the 46, 26, or 50 bus route in the North Laine, Upper North Street, Ditchling road, or Montpelier areas. 

If you can help, email brightonandhovenews@gmail.com.