Fifteen-year-old Joshua Robertson saw smoke coming from the address in Alderwood Road, Eltham as he was delivering Sunday newspapers in July 2013.
He heard the smoke alarm going off and banged on the door to check if anybody was inside. An elderly woman answered the door, but refused to leave the house, which was now full of smoke and had flames engulfing the kitchen.
Joshua alerted neighbours, who called the emergency services and, covering his face, he went back into the house, where he talked to the woman and eventually managed to persuade her to get out of the house.
Joshua, who is a student at the Saint Paul’s Academy in Greenwich, said: “She was very shocked and distressed and as I rushed into the house I saw that the kitchen and parts of the floor were on fire. It seemed that the fire had started from the toaster. I told the woman that she had to get out right away but at first she wouldn’t leave.”
Emergency services arrived shortly after and both Joshua and the woman – in her 70s – were taken to hospital suffering from smoke inhalation, but were both discharged later that day.
Joshua cited the skills that he has learned as a Police Cadet, his experiences on the Duke of Edinburgh Awards and his work as a volunteer at a care home in Abbey Wood all helped him to remain calm in the situation.
Joshua said: “Looking back I feel very happy and proud that I was able to help save her life. I don’t think she would have left her house without my help.”
Joshua was recognised for his heroic efforts and was awarded the commendation by Assistant Commissioner Simon Byrne for his ‘bravery, tenacity and maturity’ at a ceremony held on Friday, 10 January. He attended the ceremony, held at New Scotland Yard, accompanied by his mother, Judith Robertson and the Deputy Head Teacher from Saint Paul’s Academy, Tony Ring.
Superintendent Parm Sandhu, from Greenwich borough police, who also attended the ceremony, said: “Joshua joined our Volunteer Police Cadets a year ago and in that short time, he’s proved to be popular and hardworking. He’s also very extremely modest – we only found out about his life-saving efforts after his fellow cadets told us.
“It’s an amazing story and many people would have given up at the first attempt and waited for the Fire Brigade to arrive. However, Joshua didn’t give up, and having already seen the extent of the fire, he rushed back into the house and undoubtedly saved the lady’s life in doing so.
“Joshua’s bravery, tenacity, calmness and quick thinking are in keeping with the best traditions of the Metropolitan Police Service, and his efforts are all the more astonishing considering he is one of the youngest members of the police family.”
