Update 2: Trapped woman rescued from burning house
Home Affairs Minister Carm Mifsud Bonnici has congratulated two police constables who this morning rescued a woman who was trapped by fire in her home in Marsascala .
The incident happened shortly before 8.30 a.m.
The two traffic policemen, Constables Robert Vassallo and Kenneth Camilleri, who were on their way to the Prime Minister's residence to escort him to the Victory Day celebrations, noticed smoke coming out of the house and rushed to give assistance.
They entered the house from the wash room and found a woman, 54, cowering in a landing below, unable to find the stairs. She was alone in the home at the time.
Such was the amount of smoke that the officers could not find their way back until PC Camilleri broke open a window and they managed to get out.
The woman needed medical treatment for smoke inhalation while PC Camilleri needed stitches to his hand.
Dr Mifsud Bonnici praised the policemen for risking their own lives to rescue the woman and said their actions reflected the values of the police corps to serve and protect the people.
He thanked the Police force and the Department of Civil Protection for their work in what had proved to be a busy summer.
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joanna asquith
Sep 10th 2010, 19:57
great job lads!! shame the police force in england arent as good as you lot- here, they would have done a risk assesment, phoned the fire brigade- by then, your done for. england could learn a lot from malta :) xx
rose zammit
Sep 10th 2010, 11:19
well done. it is very comforting to know that there are policemen in Malta with a big heart who risk their life for the benefit of citizens. A few weeks ago i too experienced a very helping hand from 2 policemen in the maritime section and others from the traffic division when they all cleared a large boat trailer which had, irresponsibly, been left attached to a car in front of my car, hindering all possible exit. Well done boys.... i agree that such persons should be publicly praised and honored.
M.Tonna
Sep 9th 2010, 21:12
Prosit! Bravi! Etc Etc Etc!
Wish I can extend the same good wished to the reporter or this article, it is possible that you never bother to check what the nature of the fire was???
Seems eveyone got so carried away, no even bothered to even think if they are too at the same risk that this poor lady passed from!
Maybe I expected too much!
Lina Mangion
Sep 9th 2010, 11:07
I thank constables Robert Vasallo and Kenneth Camilleri for rescuing my daughter -in-law from the fire in her home in Marsascala. Well done.I hope the constable who cut his hand in the fire will get well soon.
Joe Cordina
Sep 9th 2010, 09:47
These two brave officers should be officially commended and decorated. Well done you make us proud
Maria Vella
Sep 9th 2010, 08:46
Has the cause of the fire been identified? I tried to catch it on the news but I seem to have missed it. Good job by the police of course.
david axiaq
Sep 9th 2010, 08:27
unfortunately not all police are like these two, writing from my own experience, some of them are just a waste of people's taxes, waste of uniform etc....but knowing personally pc kenneth camilleri, he is one of the few....well done boys!!
j grech
Sep 8th 2010, 21:44
my son-in-law is a police officer and has been for the past 22yrs back in the UK, when a police officer goes beyond his line of duty as these two brave maltese cops did and the policemen who had to confront armed robbers and get fired at earlier here in malta, they get recognition in that they are invited to the residence of the prime minister and with media present they are awarded the hero trophy each along with certificate each, it is normaly the sun newspaper that sponsors the event and it is the prime minister who shakes hands while making each award and group photos are taken as well as individual photos of cop plus partner and each cop gets 1group photo and his own individual photo as well why can we not have the same sponsership by one of the leading media here in malta to give all cops an incentive, and show public appreciation at least once every couple of years im not the only one surely that appreciates a good cop like these few and i know not all cops would take there dutys seriously they just want the uniform and stateus,have a cops day
J Brincat
Sep 9th 2010, 21:50
Wow that is one long sentence!! I feel dizzy now!
Gina Bugeja
Sep 8th 2010, 19:14
well done again the boys in blue.malta feels safer with you.thanks
Lina Caruana
Sep 8th 2010, 14:58
This is another feat which raises the standard of the Police Force . The Maltese should honour such people who deserve our utmost respect.
Joe Grima
Sep 8th 2010, 14:37
These are the kind of police officers that give the Police force a good name and shift the public from its anthipaties towards the police force to sympathy. If only these actions were the hallmark of the entire police force. Very regrettably they are not as evidenced by the police handling of teh former Sliema mayor and the political surroundings of those events.
charles spiteri
Sep 8th 2010, 14:00
prosit nispera li il Kumissarju jew il Prim Ministru jonorakhom PROSIT salvajtu hajja
Ronald Mallia
Sep 8th 2010, 13:56
The Malta Police Force needs more people like these two.
Sadly for the Police Force, there aren't many who show the dedication that these men have shown. This is why their deed is even more noteworthy and noble than it would have been otherwise.
A big well done and thanks on the behalf of Maltese Society.
Joe Busuttil
Sep 8th 2010, 13:08
Well done and a good example to us all. Hope the two officers will be rewarded for their noble act.
M. Camilleri
Sep 8th 2010, 12:56
Well done! These are our everyday heroes. They deserve the highest merit. Risking one's life to save that of another person is without any doubt the highest and noblest of deeds. Gieh ir-Repubblika should be seriously considered for these two brave PCs
VV Bartolo
Sep 8th 2010, 12:45
a big well done to both officers. they deserve a much bigger reward than the foreign officer who caught the sliema burglar earlier last month. our local heroes SAVED A LIFE!!!
J Pace
Sep 8th 2010, 12:36
it is people like this that deserve the national recognition as Gieh ir Repubblika u mela xi hadd
li mar jizfen jew ikanta barra jew!!!
m barthet
Sep 8th 2010, 13:29
well said
Christine Gala
Sep 8th 2010, 21:41
Well said!
K.Anastasi
Sep 9th 2010, 09:15
Spot on!!
donald borg
Sep 8th 2010, 12:28
Prosit, Thanks GOD for giving courage and a Golden Heart to these two Police officers who risked their lives for this woman. I thank you again on behalf of this woman and God bless you for such a wonderful act.
Audrey Galea
Sep 8th 2010, 12:01
Well done to both officers for their courage and dedication.
Mary Grace Farrugia
Sep 8th 2010, 11:59
Well done to Constables Robert Vassallo and Kenneth Camilleri. You both deserve all the praise you`re being given but not least to the Civil Protection Department for rescueing them all. People like you make us all very proud.God bless you all.Hope Constable Camilleri`s injury is not too bad
S.bartolo
Sep 8th 2010, 11:50
Keep up your good job proset tassew.....
gaffarena joseph
Sep 8th 2010, 11:42
Well done,quick thinking with a positive result.
Joseph MELI
Sep 8th 2010, 12:07
Well good for what they done, but the Msida and Sliema Police had been for the past two or three years receiving complaints of several individuals (couples and families) of obstructing a very narrow pavement of Ta' Xbiex Terrace, Ta' Xbiex with vehicles being also parked on the yellow lines.
Unfortunate the Police have so far done NOTHING, and they pass from this area without not charging for their bstruction of pavement or the contravention of being parked in an area which is also prohabited to park indicated with yellow lines ?
The wardens also patrol this area and they should have seen such contraventions and once up on a time I observed that they should have observed these persons telling an invalied person who wanted to walk on the pavement told to go down the pavement as they are having their evening meal. What justice is this ?
Should they not take any action always ?
RJ Micallef
Sep 8th 2010, 14:13
Dear Mr Meli
Do you not think that perhaps your gripe about a minor contravention is utterly misplaced in this particular context?
Two brave constables risked their lives to save the life of a helpless woman. We should salute these men and be proud of them. I have no idea who the lady is but I am grateful for our boys in blue.
Robert Donnelly
Sep 8th 2010, 15:04
Joseph Meli. Your comment has nothing to do with the heroic act of those 2 brave Police Officers. Here in Oklahoma , they would receive from the Mayor, Commissioner of Police, etc.etc. a badge of Valor , followed by a citation for their extraordinary bravery and risk of their lives. Well done. A promotion is more appropriate too. And please quit complaining. If you want better serviice and better police, respect their action , give credit when its due. Have a nice day for the MALTA Police Force.
Joseph MELI
Sep 8th 2010, 21:04
@Robert Donnelly&RJ Micallef:::>Well, if what I mentioned is utterly misplaced in this particular context? Then do tell us what for are the Malta Police or American [in case of Donnelly] Police Force are paid for ? Or are they only expected and able to save people in distress only, while their normal other duties could be neglected or excused.
It is enough to see the many...contraventions around us being done, or to control such things we expect the wardens only to take care of ? Why only now we have to honor such things, while past Police Officers who might have also risked their lives to save others they were never commended or promoted ?
I remember a case when a Police Sgt risked his own life while saving a constable from being stabbed to death by an Arab with a knife who was along Testaferrata Street, when this street used to be occupied by gangsters and with tough army North Africans from Libya who were all armed with long...pointed...knives and even armed too. Then tell me why such policemen were never rewarded ? [Continued]
Joseph MELI
Sep 8th 2010, 21:07
@Robert Donnelly&RJ Micallef:::> [Continuation No 2]
What I do expect is that we should have a Police Force....that are always ready to do their job, what ever it is, being from a small contravention to the breavest thing such as this.
P.S. I did say "Well good for what they done" But I expect them always to be efficient for what they are paid for!! That was my point.... Finally, we do have a lot of Police doing clerical or odd jobs who should be doing night patrol also at least once a week.
Stephen Koludrovic
Sep 8th 2010, 11:30
To serve and protect is their trademark, and they,re doing just fine.
M. Avellino
Sep 8th 2010, 11:28
I feel comforted knowing that our policemen are true heroes when needed. We should all act like these two men. Well done.
vincent a galea
Sep 8th 2010, 11:28
Yes, the attitude of these two policemen should be PRAISED and not go UNREWARDED... And let no one say that they were only doing their DUTY.... We all know what 'doing their duty' means to most public officers and civil servants.....
Jesmond Micallef
Sep 8th 2010, 11:27
Very well done to traffic policemen, Constables Robert Vassallo and Kenneth Camilleri and to the personnel of the Civil Protection Department in saving this 54 year old woman's life.
Indeed, a Victory Day celebration to you all.
C. Grech
Sep 8th 2010, 11:25
Everytime I needed a policeman I always witnessed extremes . Some are reluctant to get up from their chairs and try to find some technicality to get rid of you whilst others go all the way to get matters done (even when they are off duty).
These two policemen seem to be an example of the latter.
Well done and God bless.
J.Scerri
Sep 8th 2010, 11:19
At least someone who appreciates the risks & the effort, most of the Policemen do in their work 24/7. And I'm writing this because normally most of the people who comment here, their favourite 'sport' is to minimize the work that Policemen & Teachers (The 2 most Under-estimated professions here in Malta) do DAILY.
PS : I'm neither a policeman nor a Teacher.
S Borg
Sep 8th 2010, 11:17
Well done to the two police officers for their commitment and courage.
Matthew Farrugia
Sep 8th 2010, 11:17
Well done to both policemen, a true example
ANTOINETTE FAVA
Sep 8th 2010, 11:16
PROSIT TO THE TWO POLICE OFFICERS. SUCH ACTIONS MAKE MALTA PROUD. GOD BLESS YOUR GOOD WORK.
A. FAVA
Emmanuel Caruana
Sep 8th 2010, 11:03
Very well done boys in Blue.......
ct busuttil
Sep 8th 2010, 11:00
A BREATH OF FRESH AIR.
John Attard
Sep 8th 2010, 11:26
And may I add; these two PC"s are a great credit to the Police Force. Well done. Ihope that teir act is emulated by us all.
S Vella
Sep 8th 2010, 10:56
Proset lill-dawn it-tnejn li jaghtu gieh xieraq lill-Korp u lil min jahdem bhalhom!
S Vella
Sep 8th 2010, 10:49
Well done God Bless you Both. True helpers of society and an examplt to all of us
d. borg
Sep 8th 2010, 10:48
Prosit tassew. We are proud to have such dedicated officers. Keep it up.
L. Brincat
Sep 8th 2010, 10:44
This is the 2nd time that PC Robert Vassallo was mentioned on the news in one week. He seems to be a really dedicated policeman! Well done!
:)
Teresa Pace
Sep 8th 2010, 10:41
Two heroes!!!!....very well done!