It is a deed many would have shied away from, but then only 10 years old, Toni-Ann Miller, in a courageous act of selflessness, rushed into a burning building to save the lives of two children.
On the afternoon of May 15, 2013, the 10 year old girl was on her way home from school with her friends in the community of Mount Hermon, St Catherine, when they came upon a house emitting thick black smoke from the windows.
They heard a child crying inside and without hesitation, Toni-Ann ran inside the burning building, pulled the young child to safety. After rescuing the six-year-old, who came away unhurt, Toni-Ann, who knows the child asked him for his younger brother. Learning he was inside sleeping, without hesitation, she again stared boldly into the face of danger, re-entering the building to take the five-year-old boy out the blazing house. Toni-Ann noted that “half of the bed was burning”. The younger boy sustained minor burns to one of his arms.
For displaying an act of heroism and bravery, eleven year old Toni-Ann Miller conferred with a Badge of Honour for Gallantry at the National Honours and Awards Ceremony, held on National Heroes Day, Monday, October 20, 2014 on the lawns of King’s House.
