Thelma and Chesleigh Foggo would not be here today without the heroic actions of their ten-year-old grandson Gary Hollis.

Anyone else would get out of a burning house, but this shy little boy did the opposite ? he went in search of his elderly grandparents and helped them get safely out of their St. David's house.

Gary and 21 other Bermudians of various ages and backgrounds were honoured yesterday in the annual Bermuda Bravery Awards Ceremony at Government House.

Governor, Sir John Vereker, said he was impressed by the actions of this "little man" who was a glowing example to others of what it takes to be a true hero.

Gary was the youngest recipient. The incident took place on the morning of January 2 this year when he smelt smoke coming from the kitchen.

Despite his painful shyness and quiet manner, the little boy rushed further into the house to find his elderly grandparents.

"Nanna, Nanna, it's a fire in the kitchen!" are the words his grandmother Thelma will never forget.

She and her husband were unaware of a fire raging out of control ? a fire which destroyed the entire house and everything the couple owned.

It has been almost a year since that fateful day and the family, who today live in another property alongside the famous St. David's lighthouse, say they are finally picking up the pieces of their lives.

The former home, which was left a burnt-out shell, is slowly being re-built and Gary's grandfather, Chesleigh Foggo yesterday said his grandson's award would have an honorary place against a wall in the new house ? just so they never forget how wonderful and special their grandson is.'

Another recipient involved in a similar rescue was Jerome Crockwell.

On the morning of May 13 this year Mr. Crockwell pulled a young mother, Mia Winters and her seven-month-old baby Allan, from a burning house on Scott's Hill Road in Somerset.

Mr. Crockwell was home at the time when he smelt smoke and went to investigate.

He saw smoke pouring from the apartment next door and knowing that one of the three tenants was home with a baby, he ran to her bedroom window and banged his fists against the window.

Ms Winters was asleep at the time with her baby son and within minutes the two had been pulled to safety through the window.

It was later discovered that a candle left to burn unattended in another room had caused the fire.

The third recipient in this year's Lifesaving Awards was Maxwell Burrows who, as a passing motorist, saw heavy smoke coming from a house on North Shore in Hamilton Parish and pulled Linda Chaves safely from her burning house.

Unfortunately Mr. Burrows was not available at yesterday's ceremony.

Other recipients of Bravery Awards included members of the Bermuda Police Service, P.c. Brian Robinson and P.c. Richard Austin for their efforts on the causeway on September 5, 2003 in efforts to rescue their colleagues and victims who were washed overboard.

Their actions were way beyond the call of duty, as were the actions of Coolridge Butterfield who risked his own life by attempting to drive a payloader on to the causeway at the height of the rescue effort during Hurricane Fabian.

Members of the St. George's and Bermuda Fire Service were also recognised for their attempts on that fateful day including Sergeants Sheldon Steede, Michael White, firefighters Stephen Pitt, Stephen Walsh, Landis Pedro-Petty, Barnaby West, Laureno Lima, Duarte O'Connor and Fire Chief Gareath Adderley.

The other 22 recipients were made up of young lifesavers working on Horseshoe Bay between July and September this year who helped in multiple rescues as Tropical Depressions and Tropical Storms caused severe rip currents.

These included Alistair Jack, Bruno Teixiera, Cameron McDonald, Dylan Ward, Jessica Marwick, Andrew Shaw and Zara Ward.