POINTE-CLAIRE - Two young men who risked their lives to save two people from a burning building were honoured as heroes Wednesday.

Part of Sun Youth's "Good Samaritan of the Month" program, friends Andrei Odorico, 20, and Giancarlo Torino, 19, were honoured for their acts of bravery.

The young men recalled the events that transpired on Nov. 5.

"We watched a movie, we were just hanging out, eating, having a good time. That's when we decided to go to bed and that's when it started," said Odorico.

The blaze broke out at about 2:15 a.m. at 504 St. Jean Blvd. near Douglas Shand Ave.

Caroline Boghosian and her 14-year-old son Razmig Soukassian were unable to escape and died in the fire.

The young men had escaped the smoky building, but when they saw Boghosian stranded on her balcony, they rushed back in. They saved her 11-year-old son.

"People still ask us, ‘Why did you guys go back in? You could have died,' but you don't think of that at the moment. It's a human instinct. If you see someone hurt you want to help them out," said Odorico.

The pair didn't stop there. They entered the burning building a second time, and rescued a man in a wheelchair.

"We brought him back downstairs to the front entrance, then we ran back in for the third time, but when we went to the top floor, there was fire so we just left," said Torino.

When they left the building, they saw the young boy they rescued standing alone.

"I was wondering why it was just him and then I put two and two together and I grabbed the kid and brought him to John Rennie (High School), and I told him it's going to be okay," said Torino.

The two fatalities were heartbreaking, but it could have been worse without the help of the young men.

"Our indebtedness goes out to these young people who intervened when it was necessary," said Pointe-Claire Mayor Bill McMurchie.

Helio Galego of Sun Youth said there should be more Good Samaritans like Odorico and Torino.

"We want people to get involved. We don't want you to get hurt, but the positive message is the Good Samaritan law. Be that Good Samaritan," he said. "Don't walk away. Look, see how you can help. This is how we like to honour people when they get involved."

Both young men were rewarded with a $500 gift card and plaques for their exceptional courage and bravery.