‘I couldn’t have faced life without him’: Young mum, 23, risks life running into burning building to save her baby
Firemen said it was a ‘miracle’ Rachel Smeeth and newborn Matthew made it out of the devastating blaze alive
A BRAVE young mum has told how she risked her life by running into a burning building to rescue her baby son.
Rachel Smeeth, 23, was sure her three-month-old son Matthew was already dead when she felt her way to his blackened room after their family home caught fire.
But despite the blazing heat and toxic smoke, the mum-of-two scooped him up in her arms and managed to make it out to safety.
Now she and her partner Danny Casson, 27, are trying to rebuild their lives.
Rachel, from Accrington, Lancs, said: “We have lost everything – even our clothes from that night are in ruins.
“But despite everything, we feel so lucky just to be alive.”
Rachel and Danny met two years ago and were thrilled when she fell pregnant last year.
Baby Matthew was born at the end of February 2016.
Rachel explained: “I had suffered five miscarriages after my first baby, so when Matthew was born it felt like a miracle. He was very precious.”
Born four weeks early, on February 24 this year, little Matthew weighed just 4lbs 7ozs.
He was allowed home a week later – with exhausted parents Rachel and Danny taking turns to do two-hourly feeds.
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Rachel recalled: “Matthew didn’t settle very well with him being premature, so I would try to get him to sleep before we had our evening meal.
“But as a result, we were eating later and later in the evening.”
One evening in March, after settling Matthew, she switched on a pan to cook supper – but as she and Danny waited in the living room, they both drifted off to sleep.
She admitted: “I didn’t even realise I was so tired but looking back, I was exhausted and I should never have switched on a pan.”
When Danny awoke 45 minutes later, the house was filled with black smoke.
He stirred Rachel who, struggling to breathe, was disorientated and choking.
She explained: “I couldn’t even remember where the door was, it was as if I was in a trance.
“I was gulping in smoke and I could feel myself going faint and dizzy.
“Danny was trying to tell me that the house was on fire and that we had to get the kids out – and suddenly I snapped to my senses.”
Danny rescued three-year-old Katie, Rachel's daughter from a previous relationship, first and handed her to neighbours who had gathered around the house.
He then bravely ran back into the flames to save baby Matthew – but was forced back by the smoke and heat.
Rachel said: “Danny went back again and again but the house was thick with smoke and he just couldn’t see a thing. He couldn’t even find his way upstairs.
“After his fourth attempt failed, I realised that Matthew was going to die and I knew I had to act.
“The neighbours were all screaming at me to stay outside, but all I could think about was my baby.
“I ran back into the house, following the sounds of Danny’s voice to find my way to Matthew’s room.
“I felt my way to the cot and he was lifeless – not crying – and I was sure he was dead.
“I scooped him up with a blanket over his face.
“By this time, the firemen were outside and I was able to follow the lights from their torches to make my way down the stairs.”
Danny, who was disorientated by the smoke, jumped from a bedroom window.
The family was rushed to hospital and treated for smoke inhalation.
Rachel recalled: “The doctors said it was a miracle that Matthew was alive.
“My throat was badly burned and we were all in shock. I lost my voice and the doctors have said I may have some permanent damage but that doesn’t matter at all.
“The firemen came to see us and told us we should be dead.
“They kept saying how brave I was to go back into the house for Matthew, but any mother would do exactly the same.
“I could not have faced life without my precious baby – he was a miracle even before this happened. Now, we treasure him all the more.”
The couple and children have all made a good recovery from the fire but have had to move into a new home.