'I'm so proud of him': Canadian boy, 11, saves family from devastating fire that destroyed home

A brave 11-year-old Canadian boy saved his entire family from a devastating fire, his mother has said.

David Smith woke up his mother after their home in Glovertown, Newfoundland and Labrador, became engulfed in flames.

Their pet cats and dogs died in the fire, but the family was able to escape thanks to the youngster’s warning.

His mother Marcy said if it was not for his intervention, she and her daughter may not have survived the fire.

Mrs Smith told the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation: “Within seconds of him getting us up, the flames were everywhere.

"It happened so fast. We were standing in the kitchen by the wood stove and the flames just ate around me and David. The entire kitchen just disappeared while we were standing in it."

She believes the fire was started by some rubbish she had burned on a wood stove, which she said she had done “a thousand times before”.

Members of the community have since rallied to donate clothes to the family, who lost all their possessions in the fire.

One person has even donated a bike for David, Mrs Smith said.

She added: “All he understands is that me and his sister and him got out. He does not understand that he is the only reason we did.

"He did a huge thing for such a young boy. I am so proud of him and I am going to tell him for the rest of his life until he understands what a big thing he did."