Norwich burns victim to present firefighters top award
A woman who was saved by a group of Norfolk firefighters is to present them with a prestigious award.
Layla Skalli will honour Norwich's Green Watch with a Chief Fire Officer's Certificate of Commendation on Friday.
Ms Skalli was 19 when a fire broke out in her bedsit in Magdalen Street, Norwich on 14 April 2009.
She was left unconscious by the fire which caused 80% deep tissue burns to her body. Ms Skalli was given a 1% chance of survival.
Group manager Richard Herrell, who nominated Green Watch, said: "It was only thanks to the quick thinking of Green Watch who used a ladder to break through the bedsit window, the bravery of the firefighters who entered the building and the excellent teamwork of the fire crews on the ground that a very serious incident wasn't a great deal worse.
"Layla's incredible recovery has been down to pioneering medical techniques and the quite extraordinary courage she has shown throughout a most harrowing ordeal.
"She is a remarkable woman."
The Certificate of Commendation is one of a number of honours to be presented at the Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service's annual awards evening.
Norwich landlord Michael Arthur Billings was jailed for 30 months for serious breaches of health and fire safety law.
Ms Skalli has started a £2m legal action against her former landlord.