A HEROIC schoolboy who helped evacuate people after the explosion in New Ferry has been honoured for his bravery with a 'certificate of thanks' from Merseyside's deputy chief fire officer.

Alex Manning joined helped people out of a nearby Chinese restaurant affected by the blast on March 25.

The 14-year-old, who attends Bebington High Sports College and lives in New Ferry, was close to the scene at the time of the explosion and ran towards the restaurant where diners had been trapped by falling debris.

As well as pulling the debris off casualties, he ran to a nearby pub to get water and towels and alert any first aiders. He also helped people away from the scene and offered first aid to anyone affected by the blast.

This afternoon Alex was presented with a certificate by deputy chief fire Phil Garrigan in recognition of his bravery and outstanding actions in helping his community.

He was accompanied by parents Mark and Lynne and his brothers Oscar and Morgan. The family was also given a tour of the fire station and fire appliances.

On his certificate of thanks, Alex said humbly: "This award is not for me, I don't want to be bigheaded, it's on behalf of the people who were helping, not just me. 

"I wasn't really thinking at the time, I just knew that my mission was to get people out and make sure they're okay.

"Thankfully, touch wood, no-one's going to die.

"I want to join the army when I'm older and this inspired me even more to want to do that". 

Dad Mark told the Globe: "My feeling for Alex's courage that night goes beyond pride. It's been an extremely humbling experience from the night it happened.

"I've lived in New Ferry all my life and know a lot of people; everyone has been so complimentary of Alex.

"It just makes me fit to burst with pride. 

"It's been tempered a little bit, because we've struggled with how to react because there are people who haven't been so fortunate; such as Lewis Jones, who was injured and is still in hospital and our thoughts are with him constantly.

"What Alex did that night, I never taught him, it's in his own make-up to help others and what he did was all down to him. All we taught him was to be a polite young man.

"I still get choked up when I think about what he did to help others that night. 'Proud' is not a big enough word".

Praising Alex's bravery, deputy chief fire officer Phil Garrigan said: "We're here to recognise the endeavours of a young lad who was first on the scene of the explosion in New Ferry and his actions in regard to looking after the public in the community he lives in.

"I don't live too far away from New Ferry and so it became quite obvious, through social media, of Alex's endeavours.

"Equally, we picked up on Alex's appearance on Granada Reports and the fact that he spoke so eloquently about the actions he had taken that night and the reasons why he took those actions.

"We thought it fitting that Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service, who were first on the scene as an emergency responder, alongside our police colleagues and Northwest Ambulance Service, recognise his contribution.

"We train our firefighters over a good number of weeks to step forward when the community is in crisis, however, on that evening Alex stepped forward without any training, but recognised his community was in crisis and realised that he could support it in some shape or form.

"On behalf of the people of New Ferry I'd like to thank Alex for his outstanding actions that night".