"I CAN still hear him calling out for help".
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The words of an elderly Cootamundra man, who perished in a 2012 house fire, still linger in Michael Anderson's mind.
Mr Anderson entered the burning Berthong Street home in an attempt to save the occupant trapped inside, but was forced to retreat due to the intense heat.
The 64-year-old's actions have earned him a commendation for brave conduct from Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove today.
The award came as a surprise to the retiree.
"I didn't think it was anything anyone else wouldn't have done, if they had the chance," Mr Anderson said.
He was alerted to the fire by wife Dina - who saw the house across the street alight as she swam with their grandchildren in the backyard pool.
Going against her word, not to go inside, Mr Anderson ran to the house and found flames coming from a blown-out kitchen window.
"He (the elderly occupant) was in there and I could hear him calling out," he said.
"It's just something you can't ignore."
Mr Anderson said he knew the occupant wasn't very mobile and acted quickly.
"I didn't think to be honest," he said.
"It's just human nature to do things for the weak and the trapped.
"If you stopped to think about it, you'd never do anything."
Mr Anderson smashed a front window, but became tangled in venetian blinds, curtains and furniture.
Forced to retreat, he kicked the front door in.
"The heat, smoke and flames came flying towards me from the back of the house ... I got on the floor and tried to get out before I got burned," he said.
"I just couldn't get to him, I got within four foot of his door.
"I had to get to the ground to be able to breathe."
Mr Anderson tried to gain entry a second time but was told it was too dangerous to return.
His wife later helped James Burge - another commendation recipient - by wrapping his injured leg in her swimming towel.
A tendon in Mr Burge's leg had been severed in the ordeal.
"Everyone was in there doing everything they could," Mr Anderson said.
"I was the silly one that went in the bloody door."
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