There are heroes who put their lives at risk by trying to rescue others from perilous sea conditions or burning buildings.

There are people we like to consider our sporting heroes, such as Johnathan Thurston who kicked a field goal to win the 2015 National Rugby League premiership for the North Queensland Cowboys – their first title.

And then there are the heroes who walk among us unheralded, their bravery known to only a few.

People such as Linda Buchan.

Ms Buchan today reveals how her promising young life was devastated by a tragic house fire when she was just 18 years old.

She tells how she “died” twice from smoke inhalation, carbon monoxide poisoning and lack of oxygen to her brain, leaving her with a severe brain injury.

The fire cut short the life of Ms Buchan’s 16-year-old sister, Kim.

We who are blessed with lives untouched by such terrible tragedy can only imagine the suffering endured by Ms Buchan and her parents, David and Vicki, and sympathise with them.

There is never any “getting over” or overcoming such a tragedy.

Most survivors just learn to cope with life as it must go on.

“In the days, weeks, months and years that followed, I was often stricken with pain, sadness, despair, distress and heartbreak, but I never for one moment thought of giving up,” Ms Buchan told The Daily Advertiser.

She woke from a two-month coma to be told her beloved sister had died.

Now, Ms Buchan is using her tragic experience to appeal to people to conduct a fire safety audit of their homes in order to guard against blazes that can cost property and lives.

So, not only has she set an inspiring example by refusing to crumble under her hardships, she has forged a successful life and is now working hard to save the lives of others.

So we might applaud our sporting “heroes” and stand in awe when we attend Anzac Day marches or watch bravery or military medal ceremonies, but let’s also take time to recognise the heroism of people such as Linda Buchan and her parents.

They have endured much and yet they fight back and stand up to be examples for us all to follow and be inspired by.