Rotorua brothers who saved boy from fatal fire honoured

Wiremu Ropata (right), and his brother Henare. Picture / Andrew Warner

Two Rotorua brothers are to be commended for an act of bravery after risking their lives to pull a boy from a blazing, smoke-filled home.

Henare, 22, and Wiremu Ropata, 18, crawled under dense smoke to reach the boy who was "yelling and screaming" and banging on the walls of the burning Clayton Rd home in the early hours of April 4. The boy's mother, Deena Christa Borrell, 32, died in the fire, which investigators said was probably caused by smoking in bed.

The Ropata brothers were found by Rotorua firefighters vomiting from smoke inhalation outside after rescuing the boy.

Central North Island Area Commander Graham Fuller said there could have easily been two deaths had it not been for the brothers' actions.

They are to receive certificates of commendation.

"The actions they took effectively prevented a second death at the house," he said. "They put their lives at risk to remove the child. We are recognising them for saving the life of someone. It's important to reinforce that what they did was brave. These boys deserve recognition."

Both men say they would do it again. They are both feeling "humbled" by the attention they have received.

Pupils and staff from Sunset School, where the boy goes, have written cards and letters to them and personally thanked them. People have stopped them in the street after reading about their bravery and their doctor has shaken their hands in gratitude for the community.

Wiremu was blown away by the praise and the upcoming commendation for their actions.

If needed he would do it all again, he said.

"It's a real buzz. It makes you feel awesome as," he said. "It's just something you do. Natural instinct when someone is in danger. We knew we could do something when we heard the boy screaming. He was up against the wall banging.

"It's humbling as. It's out of the blue to be recognised," said Henare. "We just did what anyone would have done."

However, both youths are feeling a bit sad they couldn't help the boy's mother. "We just couldn't get to her," Wiremu said. "The smoke was just too thick. It's so sad for the family."

Meanwhile, their mother, Tukutahi Ropata, said she was extremely proud of her sons.

"They have made me so proud. They are mean.

"When it comes down to it though, you do whatever you can to save a person's life."

The pair will be recognised by the fire crew working the night of the fire, the police and the grieving family of Ms Borrell, at a ceremony in Rotorua on May 4.

- APN