'I'm just a disabled kid but I could change the law'

Richard_Scope

A 17-year-old boy with cerebral palsy said it was a "surreal moment" to have his petition on fire safety debated in Parliament.

Lucas has been campaigning for evacuation chairs to be compulsory in schools after being left "petrified" on his own in his wheelchair in an upstairs room when a fire broke out.

His experience at Hyde High School in November inspired him to launch his #NoStudentLeftBehind campaign to improve fire safety for disabled students.

"I'm just a disabled kid from Manchester, and I am possibly changing the legislation. It's amazing," said Lucas, from Tameside in Greater Manchester.

"I want to see no student being left behind. They should feel safe."

The small electrical fire at his school was quickly extinguished, and no-one was hurt but Lucas said he was scared as he did not know the extent of the fire after being told to stay upstairs.

"I was petrified because I know how quickly the fire can spread," he said.

"We all know the biggest killer in the fire is the smoke."

Read the full BBC article by Isobel Fry and Lauren Hirst, North West

Freda

Go Lucas! This is very impressive.