Kildare Man Nigel Cullen Awarded With National Bravery Award After Saving Young Man From House Fire

Friday, 5 December 2025 15:31

By Hannah Kelly

More than 17 people have been recognised at this year’s National Bravery Awards in Leinster House

More than 17 people have been recognised at this year’s National Bravery Awards in Leinster House.

Gardaí and civilians were among those honoured for their actions this afternoon.

Nigel Cullen from Kildare was one of the 17 who received an award.

When a fire started on the deck of a house at Narraghmore on the afternoon of 23 March 2024, the back of the house was quickly engulfed in flames.

The Haughton family were outside cleaning their car but when they looked back at the house, they could see flames and began to panic.

They had just brought their 17-year-old son back from work and he was nowhere to be seen.

Nigel Cullen was passing by and on seeing the fire he took the decision to brave the flames and entered the burning house to look for the young man.

Nigel made his way through the house calling out for the man.

However, the young man was taking a shower after work and it was only when the flames cut the electricity and stopped the shower, that he could hear Nigel calling for him.

Nigel managed to get the young man safely out of the house, but on realising that there was another teenage brother missing he went back in again.

Fortunately, the other boy was not in the house, which was extensively damaged by the fire.

Nigel was later treated in hospital for a burn to his leg, smoke inhalation and some minor injuries.

For his actions, Nigel Cullen is awarded a Bronze medal and a Certificate of Bravery.

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