August 18, 2021
The former officer-in-charge at Murgon Ambulance, Michael Formica, has been honoured with an Australian Bravery Medal for his actions at a house fire.
The off-duty ambulance paramedic, who is now OIC at Childers, saved two people and their pets from a house fire at Harristown in Toowoomba in September 2019.
The Australian Bravery Decorations Council, an independent advisory body, meets twice a year to consider nominations for awards and make recommendations to the Governor-General.
QAS Acting Commissioner Craig Emery said Michael’s efforts were entirely worthy of the esteemed national decoration.
“For Michael to enter a fully engulfed home to save the life of those inside is bravery like no other, and we’re extremely proud of what he achieved that day,” he said.
Queensland recipients will receive their awards at a formal ceremony at Government House in Brisbane.
“Twice a year, the Australian Bravery Decorations celebrate the incredible bravery and selflessness of individuals, groups, and perhaps most frequently, those who serve on the frontline to protect and support our community,” Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said.
“Of the 10 Australians honoured with Bravery Medals in this round, half are from Queensland and four currently serve with the Queensland Police Service. A further five Queensland Police officers and one member of the public have been honoured with a Commendation for Brave Conduct.”
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southburnett.com.au reported Michael Formica’s courage at the time:
“I noticed the smoke pretty well straight away,” Michael said.
“There were a couple of people on scene when I walked across there. I heard some commotion from the back. The house was engulfed in flames.
“I walked around the back. There was a gentleman hosing through the security door.”
Michael said there was screaming coming from inside the building.
He entered the house through the back door and found the mother inside the house.
“I pulled her back out of the smoke. She was covered in soot from head to toe and screaming,” he said.
Michael took her outside and asked her if there was anyone else inside.
The frantic mother said her eight-year-old daughter was still in the burning building.
Michael then re-entered the house, which was full of thick, black smoke.
“From the hose, the floor was full of water. So I got down in the water and I crawled in the direction of the loungeroom but I couldn’t get past the heat and the smoke and I couldn’t see.”
Michael then retreated back to the laundry area and turned on the flashlight on his phone.
He then crawled back inside.
“I made it further back into the loungeroom but because of the thickness of the smoke, the light was just bouncing back and I couldn’t see.”
He then decided to get out of the house and try to find a way to smash the windows to let some of the smoke out.
“I did that and then I re-entered the house, crawled right into the loungeroom where the flames were.
“I did a scan of the floor and I couldn’t see any persons on the floor.
“I crawled back through to the other end of the house and opened a door.
“The bedroom was full of smoke. I entered and checked but couldn’t find any persons in there.
“I had to remove myself because I couldn’t breathe.
“I took a few more breaths and went back in and heard a noise in a cupboard.
“I crawled back in, opened the cupboard and there was a dog in the cupboard. I removed the dog and went outside.
“I made my way in (again) but I couldn’t unlock that bedroom door.
“I heard another noise in the first bedroom and I went in there to find another puppy.
“I took the puppy out and handed the pup to the mother.
“I turned around and saw the girl in the garage. She couldn’t get up.
“I helped her up.”
He then took the mother and girl around the front of the house to safety and contacted QAS for back-up.
“When the firies arrived I got their oxygen and put the oxygen on mum and then the ambulance arrived and they headed to hospital,” he said.
Once the handover was done, it was Michael’s turn to get treated.
“The mother was quite upset, as you could imagine. She had just lost most of her possessions,” Michael said.
She also thought her daughter had been hurt, but fortunately she was not injured.
The mother suffered smoke inhalation.
“I had smoke inhalation and a small burn on my left hand.”
The modest hero said he was “just glad he could do something”.
- Related article: Murgon Hero Saves Family From Fire
