South Yorkshire Times November 2, 1957

Blaze: Boy Saved By Brave Mother

A 7 year old Swinton boy, Ivan Riley, 112 Valley Rd was rescued from a fire in an adjoining outhouse on Sunday afternoon, by his mother, Mrs I Riley, who rushed into the building despite the danger to herself.

Fumes from Petrol

Ivan returned from Sunday school in the afternoon and went to play in his usual “den” – the outhouse – whilst his parents Mr and Mrs Ivan Riley, watched television.

Mrs Riley said this week that she thought the fire was started by matches. Unknown to them Ivan must have playing with matches and fumes from some empty petrol cans had caught fire, spreading to the wooden door, a rug and numerous toys which are kept in the out house.

Ivan was too frightened by the smoke and rising flames to try to escape and his mother had to dash inside and carry him out. He was rushed to Mexborough Montagu hospital with burns to his face and hands.

Luckily none of his clothes caught fire. Mrs Riley sustained burns to her legs, but was not taken to hospital.

Playing with Matches

Mrs Riley said Ivan was usually well behaved and: “it must be because it is near bonfire day that he was playing with matches.”

A rug, pram, bicycles and rocking horse were destroyed in the fire stop

Mr Riley, a lorry driver, and his wife of two other children, Lynn (four) and Graham (18 months).

Mrs Riley told a “South Yorkshire Times reported this week that the empty petrol cans were only kept there because recently her husband had kept his motorcycle in the outbuilding, before he had his present garage.

Ivan attends Kilnhurst Council School.