‘She will forever be our hero’: Good Samaritan honoured for saving couple

WATCH: An emotional reunion in Surrey today, between a woman and the couple she saved from their burning home. Elaine Yong has the story.

VANCOUVER – A woman who rescued an elderly couple from a burning home in Surrey is being hailed as a hero.

The Good Samaritan was driving by a home on 0 Avenue when she noticed smoke billowing from the building.

Yvonne Bernardy-Dearden jumped into action and today Surrey Fire Services is commending her for her courage.

The homeowners are also extremely grateful to Bernardy-Dearden for what she did. “She will forever be our hero,” said Johnston.

Bernardy-Dearden was driving down 0 Avenue on her way to work at 5:45 a.m. in late May when she noticed smoke billowing from a home between 170 and 171 Streets. “I see the side of the house is on fire so I pulled over and called 911,” she said.

She then started pounding on the door, calling out for the homeowners to wake up.

After getting no response and trying to look around the back of the house, Bernardy-Dearden came back to the front door and noticed it was open. However, no one was around. “I walked into the hallway and yelled ‘you have to get out of your house, your house if burning down!’” she said.

After helping the elderly couple out of the house, the firefighters arrived on scene.

She said that morning she did not even think about going to help. “It’s just something that you do.”

Today Bernardy-Dearden received a merit award for her actions and for Andy and Carol Johnston, she will forever be their hero.

“This is a good person who did a good thing for the good reasons,” said Andy. “And we’re of the opinion, because of Yvonne’s actions, she saved our lives.”

As a retired RCMP officer, Andy also wanted to thank the first responders who went above and beyond.

– With files from Grace Ke