By Mitchell Clarke
A disabled 93-year-old woman thought she was going to die while trying to rescue her pet cats as her Pakenham home filled with choking smoke.
Prominent local identity Audrey Pearson, who is the mother of Lakeside Residents Group president Wendy Andrews, managed to save the family home from burning on Thursday 22 October.
With Ms Pearson safe and secure in her bed, Mrs Andrews and her husband Wayne, took the opportunity to leave the house together for the first time in months.
“We usually only go out alone and leave one person at home, but this time we just needed a short break,” she recalled.
But Mr Andrews had left some eggs boiling in the stove, which eventually boiled dry and exploded before filling the house with smoke.
Ms Pearson, who is wheelchair bound, managed to use her table to reach her walker before manoeuvring her way through the house to turn off the stove and move the burnt pot.
She slowly managed to walk to the sliding door and open it in an attempt to remove the smoke and save her beloved cats.
“When we returned the house was full of choking smoke and mum was by the sliding door with the door open,” Mrs Andrews explained.
“She thought she was going to die but she thought to let the cats out so they would survive.
“We were only out about an hour … It just goes to show how quickly things can happen.”
In late January, Ms Pearson was placed into ICU after she was flung from her wheelchair during Australia Day celebrations.
Thankfully, the defiant woman wasn’t injured in this incident and she hasn’t suffered any smoke inhalation.
“We put her in her wheelchair and took her outside in the fresh air while we opened all the windows and turned on all the fans,” Mrs Andrews added.
“She has suffered no ill effects and is quite proud that she saved the house and herself and of course the cats.”
The CFA weren’t required on scene.
