29/09/2009
'Hero' Pensioner Dies Saving Family From Blaze
A 64-year-old woman has died in a house fire in County Limerick after saving the lives of her relatives.
Nora May O'Hanlon has been described as a "hero" by family and neighbours who said if it hadn't been for the brave actions of the pensioner, her niece and brother-in-law would have been killed in the blaze at their home in Glin, Co Limerick.
According to reports this morning, Ms O'Hanlon awoke in the semi-detached home shortly after 5am and raised the alarm after the fire had broken out at the back of the building.
The Limerick woman raised the alarm, getting her brother-in-law, PJ Woulfe, and her niece, Patricia, out of their beds as the blaze quickly engulfed the home. However, Ms O'Hanlon failed to escape and her body was found upstairs by firemen.
It is believed Ms O'Hanlon had gone back upstairs to retrieve personal belongings. Neighbours in the Corbery estate in the west Limerick town unsuccessfully attempted to help the occupants from the building, but the smoke and flames proved too strong.
The victim's brother Jamsie O'Hanlon said his family would have been coping with three deaths, were it not for his younger sister.
"She went into PJ's room and told him and they went downstairs to investigate. He opened the back door in the kitchen and the fire nearly came in on top of him. It was fierce strong," Mr O'Hanlon said.
(DW/KMcA)
Nora May O'Hanlon has been described as a "hero" by family and neighbours who said if it hadn't been for the brave actions of the pensioner, her niece and brother-in-law would have been killed in the blaze at their home in Glin, Co Limerick.
According to reports this morning, Ms O'Hanlon awoke in the semi-detached home shortly after 5am and raised the alarm after the fire had broken out at the back of the building.
The Limerick woman raised the alarm, getting her brother-in-law, PJ Woulfe, and her niece, Patricia, out of their beds as the blaze quickly engulfed the home. However, Ms O'Hanlon failed to escape and her body was found upstairs by firemen.
It is believed Ms O'Hanlon had gone back upstairs to retrieve personal belongings. Neighbours in the Corbery estate in the west Limerick town unsuccessfully attempted to help the occupants from the building, but the smoke and flames proved too strong.
The victim's brother Jamsie O'Hanlon said his family would have been coping with three deaths, were it not for his younger sister.
"She went into PJ's room and told him and they went downstairs to investigate. He opened the back door in the kitchen and the fire nearly came in on top of him. It was fierce strong," Mr O'Hanlon said.
(DW/KMcA)
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