Man who saved two children from burning house to be deported

A man who saved two children from a house fire has been told he has to leave the country. Robert Chilowa, 46, was praised for his bravery after running into a neighbour’s burning house in Withington, Manchester. The Zimbabwean, who has been in the UK since 2001, managed to save a boy and girl after telling them to jump into his arms once he was inside. Their older sister had already leaped from a window. But now he faces deportation back to Africa, where he fears for his safety, after immigration officials told him he had to leave as there was ‘no case to answer’. ‘It is a slap in the face,’ he said. ‘Friends said, “When are you going to see the Queen? When are you going to be knighted? ‘I did a great job but now what they are saying is, “Get lost.”’ He has also been ordered to leave his home in Manchester by March 11 after support from the Home Office was ended. ​​ Mr Chilowa, who was praised by police and fire chiefs for his bravery, can no longer claim benefits. as well.

The burnt house

He added: ‘It really broke my heart what I’m going through now. I did nothing wrong. I don’t have a criminal record. Someone should have a heart.’ Mr Chilowa did not go into details as to why he feared for his safety in Zimbabwe. The fire in Manchester killed Mohammed Awad, 56, and Hasma Awad, 47, who were the grandparents of the siblings that were rescued. The blaze was not being treated as suspicious. Home Office spokeswoman said: ‘The UK has a proud history of granting asylum to those who need our protection and every case is assessed on its individual merits. ‘If someone is found not to need our protection we expect them to leave the UK.’