Jarryd Boyd didn’t hesitate at 6.40am on April 13, 2017, rushing to the front of the house to try and reach the man but was beaten back by the thick smoke.
He gained entry to the house and went inside where he found the man unconscious and pulled him out.
Mr Boyd then grabbed a garden hose and re-entered the building to try and stop the fire from spreading.
Emergency services arrived shortly afterwards and took control of the scene before taking the elderly man and Mr Boyd to hospital for treatment for smoke inhalation, with both luckily recovering from their injuries.
Mr Boyd, now 35, was among 46 people receiving an Australian Bravery Decoration last week and says that although he didn’t think twice about rescuing the man, he doesn’t dwell on the incident very often as it is traumatic when he thinks how close he came to death himself.
“We get taught fire-fighting skills in the Navy but on that day, I was just very gung ho and so pleased we got a happy ending,” he said.
“The family of the man were extremely grateful and were there by my bedside in hospital.
“I didn’t do it for any recognition but it feels great to be acknowledged for bravery on that day.”
Awarded over fire rescue bravery
AS a Navy Physical Training Instructor drove through the streets of Campsie in the early morning hours, a woman with a pram waved him down and asked for help to get her trapped father out a nearby home which was on fire.
