Toowoomba Fire heroes Tom Haynes, 14, Andre Nuccio, 16, Josh Lee, 17, and Jordan Donovan-Gillespie, 18. Pic: David Martinelli Source: Supplied
SITTING around a Sunday night camp fire on a chilly Toowoomba night saw four mates became heroes when "an act of total stupidity" nearly claimed two young lives.
The fast thinking of Josh Lee, Andre Cuccio, Jordan Donovan-Gillespie and Tom Haynes at a party in Toowoomba on August 25, is the reason their friends are alive today.
Matthew Richards and Paris Turkington sustained extensive burns to over half of their bodies when a bottle of methylated spirits was thrown on to a camp fire, at what was meant to be a celebration of a friend's going away.
Both have undergone several surgeries and remain in the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital.
Josh Lee had only met Paris a matter of hours earlier when he risked his own safety to save her innocent life.
Shrugging off the hero title he said it was an act any person would do in his situation.
"I just tried to help, like a friend, like a brother would," he said.
"We were all like family there that night, it was just close friends getting together and this freak thing happened."
Josh, 17, said adreline set in and neither he nor Jordan thought twice about running into the inferno to save Paris.
"I knew to grab her so I bear hugged her then someone yelled to put her in the pool," he said.
"I didn't really think, I had to act quickly every second counts."
Paris Turkington suffered burns to more than half of her body. Source: Supplied
Andre Cucicco, 16, was talking to Matt and Paris when the night turned explosive.
"We were just sitting there talking and all of a sudden there was a burst of flames," he said.
"I covered my face and when I looked up I could see Matt running completely lit up."
Andre and Tom helped Matthew to the ground, the ripped his clothes off and rolled his burning body to extinguish the flames.
Matthew's mother Johanna Wallice said she is thankful her son is still alive and she was foverever grateful to the boys who acted so swiftly.
"Those boys are heroes, all of them … Josh Lee went in with no regard for himself," Ms Wallice said.
"The quick thinking of those boys really saved our children's lives.
"Thank you doesn't seem enough."
She said the teenagers were in the wrong place at be wrong time.
"They didn't commit the crime, they are the victims of stupidity," she said.
"I am not asking myself why me, my focus is on Matthew."
Johanna Wallace, mother of burn victim Matthew Richards, is thankful for the boys’ quick thinking. She’s pictured with Matthew’s friend Jayden Formosa. Pic Annette Dew Source: News Limited
Paris's family are focused on helping their girl recover, the 16-year-old is still in ICU two weeks after she received burns to 60 per cent of her body.
"Our family appreciates the support shown for her at this difficult time," a family spokesperson said.
The family has met with Josh and the other brave young men and said they will be forever in debt to them for their act of bravery.
"Paris's family said they could never repay us for what we did," Josh said.
On Saturday the friends and family of Paris and Matthew will gather in Brisbane at an event organised to raise funds for their recovery.
Reality stars from X-Factor and Big Brother will headline the event in Kangaroo Point.
Queensland Police are still investigating what happened in the Toowoomba backyard on August 25.
No charges have been laid.
A Day for Paris and Matt is held today at 87 Main St, Kangaroo Point, Brisbane (12-4pm), entry $5.
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