Dunedin constable saves family from fire

The actions of a Dunedin constable, Craig Bennett, saved an unconscious Dunedin woman and her two children from their burning home.



Craig was off-duty and travelling along Cooper Street, Dunedin, about 7.30am on Saturday 7 May 2005 when he saw flames coming from the house where Mary-Jane McKinlay lived with her two children, Aidan and Juliette.

He stopped immediately and broke into the house to see who he could find after one of the neighbours told him where to find one of the bedrooms.

"I went into policeman mode and just concentrated on getting the people out," says Craig.

On entering the bedroom, Craig was confronted by dense smoke. "The smoke was at ground level and I went down on my knees, but it didn't make a difference. I had to walk around with my eyes closed because they were just streaming."

Despite not being able to see, Craig managed to find five-year-old Aidan unconscious on a bed. After handing Aidan to a neighbour out the window, Craig heard a moan and found unconscious three-year-old Juliette behind the bed, who he also handed out the window.

The thick smoke prevented Craig from going any further into the house, so he climbed out the window and a neighbour directed him to another bedroom window where the children's mother was thought to be.

After smashing into the room and finding the children's mother, Mary-Jane lying on the floor, Craig was forced back by the smoke. "I was starting to feel really giddy and knew I couldn't get her out in time."

So Craig headed back to his truck where he had a dust mask. By that time the fire service had arrived and Craig and a fireman were able to drag Mary-Jane to safety.

"I know it is an old cliché, but I was just doing my job. I didn't do anything any other cop wouldn't have done," says Craig.

Craig says without help from neighbours he wouldn't have been able to save Mary-Jane, Aidan, and Juliette.

"I couldn't have done without them. Not only would I have not known where to start, but what would I have done with the kids when I had them?"

As soon as Craig handed the children out of the window, the neighbours took over applying first aid. "Their actions allowed me to continue searching the other rooms for the mother – they deserve the real praise as they are just regular people who came to the aid of their neighbour."

Mary-Jane, Aidan, and Juliette were taken to hospital – the children were discharged within 24 hours and Mary-Jane a day or so later. Craig suffered minor cuts to his hands and arms and two of the neighbours also had minor cuts.

Craig's colleagues have high praise for his actions.

"Craig has been extremely modest about his efforts, however this was an extremely courageous act and I know all his colleagues are very proud of what he did," says Superintendent George Fraser, Southern District Commander . "There is little doubt that his selfless response saved the lives of those inside the burning house."

"Craig did a brilliant job. If it wasn't for him and their neighbours we would have probably been looking at three deaths," says Detective Sergeant Brett Roberts.