Irish rock band Dissension Rising were staying at a friend’s house in Atlantic City, New Jersey while on their six-week ‘Retribution’ tour.
Waking up in the middle of the night to realise the apartment block they were staying in had caught fire.
After eventually making their way through the thick black smoke, he band heard screams from the basement apartment beneath the house.
Five children, all under five-years-old, and four adults were trying to escape the burning building.
Danni Caroll, Keith Garrett, Kian Johnston, Rob Higgins and manager Dorothea Carroll have since been praised for their heroic acts.
The tour bus driver, Justin Carroll told The Mirror:
“The fire brigade involved kept saying to everyone if we had not been there or if we had not reacted when and how we did, ten minutes later everyone would be dead from smoke inhalation.”
The group helped guide those trapped inside out to safety including one woman who was pregnant.
“A policeman had just arrived on the scene and the officer, Mr Vasquez and myself started getting people out of there and handing them over to Danni , Keith, Kian and Rob, who guided the women with babies and children to the car as they were in night-clothes.
“They were in shock and the babies were crying. Rob and Kian stayed with them.
“It was chaos, but all the band wanted to do was help and get everyone out.
“Outside there was heartbreak as people were crying and upset.
“One elderly lady was in her night clothes and was distraught and hysterical. Her son had died last year and his ashes were still in the house.”
The band are now solidifying their selfless, heroic status by donating all the proceeds made from their band merchandise to a fundraiser.
