Bravery award for fire death hero

Ricci Foreman tried to save Ms McCagh

A teenager who tried to rescue a neighbour who had been set alight will be honoured at a special service.

Ricci Foreman, from Arbroath, will receive a bravery award from Tayside Fire and Rescue Service.

Jessica McCagh, 17, died after her boyfriend Stewart Blackburn poured petrol over her and set it alight.

Mr Foreman, who lived above the couple, tried to douse the flames by repeatedly filling a fish tank with water and pouring it over Ms McCagh.

But her injuries were too severe.

Thick with smoke

Mr Foreman had been lying in bed on 25 April 2009 when he heard an explosion in the flat downstairs.

Bare-chested and in his bare feet, he ran to help.

At the door he heard Ms McCagh screaming from inside.

He began kicking the door down before finally ramming his way through with a shoulder charge.

Once inside Mr Foreman said the flat was so thick with smoke he could not see beyond a metre and the heat was intense.

He found Ms McCagh "covered from head to toe in flames" with her face "melting", the High Court in Livingston heard during a trial.

She died in intensive care at Dundee's Ninewells Hospital, surrounded by her relatives.

Jessica McCagh died of her injuries at Ninewells Hospital

Mr Foreman will receive the award at a ceremony at Tayside Fire and Rescue Service's headquarters in Blackness Road, Dundee.

He was nominated for the award by Chief Fire Officer Stephen Hunter.

Mr Hunter said: "Mr Foreman was awoken in the early hours and, with no thought to his own safety, forced entry into the flat, where he heard cries for help from his neighbour and friend.

"Mr Foreman was confronted by a ferocious fire within the premises and also found his friend severely injured.

"On his own, he managed to get his friend Jessica out of the house into the common close and hand her over to ambulance personnel.

"Even after doing all this Mr Foreman then made his way upstairs to inform other residents in the surrounding flats of the fire."

"After alerting these residents Mr Foreman was almost overcome by smoke and was then assisted out of the building via a ladder by firefighters."

Blackburn, 18, was later jailed for her murder.

He will spend at least 21 years in prison.