Two young men are describing the experience of being called heroes as "really odd" after rescuing an elderly couple and their grandson from a house fire in Leeds.
Mohsin Qayyum, 22, and Mohammed Yusuf Iqbal, 20, were driving past the property on Lea Farm Road when they observed a fire and a man attempting to extinguish it with a hose. The fire, which began outside the house, had spread to the garage.
West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service confirmed that two crews attended the incident on June 19. The fire service indicated that a "combustible article" was positioned too close to a controlled fire, leading to the spread.
Iqbal recounted jumping over a fence to reach the family and expressed concern about damage to the garden, stating he took responsibility for breaking fences. However, the family assured him it was not an issue.
Qayyum and Iqbal stated they did not seek attention for their actions and were primarily motivated by the need for help. The incident gained wider attention after a family member, Kayla Robinson, posted about their actions on social media, leading to widespread praise.
"It was a bit weird at first because we never really thought it would get this much attention and we didn't really do it for attention - we just did it because like people needed our help," Iqbal told BBC News. Qayyum added that receiving messages from family and friends across England had been a "mental" and "really weird feeling."