THE families of two Bolton schoolgirls caught up in an horrific house blaze in Halliwell at the weekend have praised neighbours and the emergency services for getting them out alive.
Lauren Coleman and Danielle McEwing, both aged 10, were rushed to hospital after they became trapped in an upstairs bedroom of Lauren's Bennetts Lane house as a blaze spread through the building on Friday night.
Despite kicking in the front door of the terraced house, neighbours were helpless to reach the girls, both pupils at Church Road Primary School, as the heat and thick smoke barred their way.
But as the girls screamed for help from a bedroom window, neighbours outside managed to keep them calm, correctly advising them to stay as low as possible and shut the door.
Fire crews reached them just in time, carrying Lauren to safety after she managed to crawl towards them. The firemen found Danielle unconscious under a dressing table.
Lauren and Danielle, of Whittle Grove, Brownlow Fold, were rushed to the high dependency unit at the Royal Bolton Hospital for treatment for smoke inhalation.
Lauren was discharged the next day and is recuperating with her mum, Carol, at a relative's home in Blackpool. To the delight of her family Danielle was discharged from hospital last night. Danielle, who is best pals with Lauren, had been enjoying a sleepover at her friend's house when the fire, believed to have been started by a cigarette, broke out.
Danielle's mum, Joanne Smith told the BEN: "I want to thank everybody involved in the rescue. They couldn't have done any more than they did. Danielle is fine now and we don't think there will be any long term problems."
Mrs Smith, who rushed to hospital after being alerted to the incident by police, added that it might be some time before she allows her daughter to spend the night away from home again.
"It will be a while but you can't wrap them up in cotton wool," she said.
Since the fire Lauren and Danielle have spoken to each other on the telephone and are planning to send each other get well cards.
Meanwhile, Lauren's father John, who is separated from her mum, is planning a party for his daughter when she returns to Bolton at the weekend. New clothes and toys have been bought for the schoolgirl, who lost all her possessions in the fire.
Lauren's grandmother, Vera Coleman, of Kingswear Drive, Brownlow Fold, told how proud they are of the little girl.
"She was so brave," said Mrs Coleman. "She told me she even got her dollies and was throwing them at the window to break it but it only cracked. She has been a very lucky girl. We are just so grateful to everyone who helped."
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