Two young Muslim men from Bradford have been hailed as heroes after they risked their lives to help an elderly couple and their grandchild escape a house fire in Leeds.
Mohsin Qayyum, 22, and Mohammed Yusuf Iqbal, 20, noticed that a property had been engulfed by a blaze in Leeds this past Friday.
The pair stopped their car and alerted the emergency services right away after noticing an elderly couple inside the property with their grandchild.
Qayyum and Iqbal decided to take matters into their own hands as instinct took over, risking their own lives to help the family in need.
“We are the ones where the fire occurred. My family and I will be forever grateful to these young men,” said Sheila Robinson, the grandmother who was trapped in the house.
Robinson’s granddaughter, Kayla Robinson, also shared the post and expressed gratitude to the young men for their heroic actions.
“Just a little thank you to these guys and Ben Russell, who saved my grandma, grandad and my brother from a fire this afternoon.”
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“They drove past the garden, saw it, and ran straight in and made sure everyone was okay without a second thought! Everyone is okay, and the rest is just items that can be replaced. And a massive thank you to everyone on the street for ringing the fire brigade and for everyone’s concern,” Kayla Robinson, one of the granddaughters, said in a post on Facebook.
Reactions from family
Speaking to The Telegraph & Argus, Iqbal said:
“We drove past it, and we saw the bush on fire. It didn’t look very controlled, so we stopped the car and walked around the fire. We saw people inside and called the fire brigade, who said they already knew about it.”
“Our next action was getting people out of the house. I’d like to think that anyone in their right mind would help.”
The cause of the fire was recorded as “combustible articles too close to a heat source” and required three fire crews to extinguish it.
Iqbal’s mother also expressed how proud she was of her son and his friend. She said:
“Yusuf and his friend, Mohsin Qayyum, selflessly acted on their instincts to help an elderly couple and their grandson escape a rapidly spreading fire in their front garden.”
“Their quick thinking, courage and teamwork helped ensure the family reached safety.”
“As a mother, I am incredibly proud of both Yusuf and Mohsin for their actions.”
“They showed remarkable bravery and maturity in a frightening situation, putting the wellbeing of others before themselves.”
“I have always taught Yusuf the importance of being hardworking, kind and respectful to everyone, and to help others whenever possible.”
“He has a very caring nature and is always willing to put others first.”
“Seeing him live by those values in such extraordinary circumstances fills me with immense pride.”
“Yusuf and Mohsin are close friends who have always looked out for one another, so it does not surprise me that they instinctively came together to help others in need.”
“Their actions reflect the very best of our community, and I am grateful that the family involved was brought to safety.”
“I would like to commend both young men for their courage, selflessness and compassion. They are a credit to their families and to the wider community,” the mother concluded.
