Common Good News often highlights the valiant efforts of firefighters who brave dangerous situations to save lives from infernos. However, the heroes of this story don’t don firefighting gear; they are ordinary individuals with extraordinary courage.
Indeed, these heroes are in the business of waste collection. Yet, during their routine workday in Tipton, England, on a Tuesday morning, they encountered a dire situation—a small brick townhouse engulfed in flames—and they sprung into action, saving a man, a woman, and their pet dog.
Steve Whitehouse and Kevin Marriott, employees of Serco’s waste collection service, were the ones behind the rescue. Whitehouse was the first to act upon seeing the distressing scene. “I saw a young woman screaming from the balcony and all I could think was that I needed to get to her as quickly as possible,” he recounted to the BBC.
Demonstrating remarkable bravery, Whitehouse scaled up to the first-floor balcony three times to bring the trio to safety. Initially, he rescued the woman. Upon returning for the man, he realized the man’s dog was still trapped inside. Whitehouse skillfully caught the dog, wrapped in a blanket, thrown down by its owner, before ascending once more to assist the man. Meanwhile, Marriott worked to alert the neighbors, urging them to evacuate the adjoining townhomes.
By the time 19 firefighters from West Midlands Fire and Rescue arrived, both the man and his dog were suffering from smoke inhalation. The dog received immediate treatment on the scene, while the man was hurried to the hospital.
Senior firefighter Chris Green lauded Whitehouse’s bravery, stating, “I have no doubt that without Steve’s incredible bravery the outcome could have been very different… It was heroic. The fire and smoke were coming out of the property’s rear door like a blow torch.”
Following the rescue, the BBC reports that the two refuse collectors took a moment for a coffee break to debrief and recuperate, then continued on with their collection route.
This story serves as a powerful reminder that heroes can emerge from the most unexpected places, sometimes clad not in capes, but in the everyday attire of a garbageman.
Indeed, these heroes are in the business of waste collection. Yet, during their routine workday in Tipton, England, on a Tuesday morning, they encountered a dire situation—a small brick townhouse engulfed in flames—and they sprung into action, saving a man, a woman, and their pet dog.
Steve Whitehouse and Kevin Marriott, employees of Serco’s waste collection service, were the ones behind the rescue. Whitehouse was the first to act upon seeing the distressing scene. “I saw a young woman screaming from the balcony and all I could think was that I needed to get to her as quickly as possible,” he recounted to the BBC.
Demonstrating remarkable bravery, Whitehouse scaled up to the first-floor balcony three times to bring the trio to safety. Initially, he rescued the woman. Upon returning for the man, he realized the man’s dog was still trapped inside. Whitehouse skillfully caught the dog, wrapped in a blanket, thrown down by its owner, before ascending once more to assist the man. Meanwhile, Marriott worked to alert the neighbors, urging them to evacuate the adjoining townhomes.
By the time 19 firefighters from West Midlands Fire and Rescue arrived, both the man and his dog were suffering from smoke inhalation. The dog received immediate treatment on the scene, while the man was hurried to the hospital.
Senior firefighter Chris Green lauded Whitehouse’s bravery, stating, “I have no doubt that without Steve’s incredible bravery the outcome could have been very different… It was heroic. The fire and smoke were coming out of the property’s rear door like a blow torch.”
Following the rescue, the BBC reports that the two refuse collectors took a moment for a coffee break to debrief and recuperate, then continued on with their collection route. This story serves as a powerful reminder that heroes can emerge from the most unexpected places, sometimes clad not in capes, but in the everyday attire of a garbageman.
