Not all heroes wear capes and everyday people have the potential to change lives.

Across south-east London and north Kent there are plenty of heroes who deserve recognition at the end of the year. Here is a selection of the heroes, big and small, from 2018 who earned a special shout out.

Salvio D'Sa

Thamesmead fire: Quick-thinking man raises alarm after spotting blaze

Salvio D’Sa was hailed a hero by his sister after potentially saving the lives of a mum and child just one hour into the new year.

The 31-year-old arrived home on New Year's morning at around 1am before noticing a small garage fire which was spreading "like crazy".

Quick-thinking Salvio called the fire brigade immediately before banging on the smoke-filled door to raise alarm.

Eventually a relieved mother and baby escaped the fire thanks to Salvio’s efforts.

Three nurses

 

Nurses sleep overnight at Queen Elizabeth Hospital due to snow

Three inspiring children’s nurses became the talk of the town when they slept overnight in Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

Despite being March, snow was causing travel chaos, and the thoughtful trio put the kids first and stayed in work.

They slept in trolleys before getting up the next morning to continuing caring for the sick children.

Mansoor Ahmad

 

Goldsmiths student collects 50ps before buying Christmas gifts for homeless

This Goldsmith University student deserves heroic status after collecting 50p coins throughout the year before ending up with £500, which he spent on the homeless.

Mansoor delivered 31 bags of presents, consisting of food, hygiene products and warm clothes, to rough sleepers as the cold started to bite in December.

The TV journalism student is hoping to continue helping the homeless in 2019.

Ash Embi

 

Mottingham man caught up in terror of Lombok earthquake

A Mottingham diving instructor who lives on a small Indonesian island was left "terrified" when a 6.9 magnitude earthquake hit the country.

Ash Embi witnessed people dying on the beach as he desperately gave oxygen to children and provided medical assistance to those injured.

Despite the tragedy, Ash remains in Indonesia and has helped raise over £10,000 for emergency aid for those suffering from the disaster.

Georgia Delius

 

Teenager helps pensioner with Alzheimer’s on Grove Park bus

The mum of 19-year-old Georgia Delius said she couldn’t have been prouder of her daughter after she helped a woman with Alzheimer’s find he way home.

Georgie, from Bexleyheath, noticed the pensioner was confused and so she followed her off the bus to make sure she was ok.

She sat and spoke to her but no phone or contact details were in her purse.

The teenager called the police and the 85-year-old Alzheimer’s woman was eventually taken home after being missing for eight hours.

Kiran Vaidya

 

Beckenham man transforms land near Waitrose into guerrilla garden

People in Beckenham expressed their gratitude to Kiran Vaidya after he brightened up a "tatty" bit of land near Waitrose by turning it into a guerrilla garden.

The selfless act was also inspired to help bees.

He said: "I thought it would be really nice if I drove by it from now on to see flowers. I had a day off work so I planted it up."

People like Kiran are often the unsung heroes of a community, but he received many warm messages for his contribution.

Kim Jones

 

Orpington woman says The Fitness Link challenge changed her life

A sexual abuse victim changed her life by losing nine stone in just eight months.

Inspirational Kim Jones, 25, piled on the weight out of depression after being groomed between the ages of 11 and 15.

She turned it all around in March when she signed up to a six-week programme with The Fitness Link in Orpington.

Kim is now planning to use everything she has learned to help others looking to get in shape.

Gundami Ghale

 

Dartford man's Bluebird Care worker organises 90th birthday surprise

Gundami Ghale, a Bluebird Care worker, organised a surprise birthday treat for a patient she had been home visiting for two years.

The role model treated Ken Cordner to fish and chips and a cake to celebrate his 90th birthday.

Afterwards Gundami said: "I am not only Ken's care assistant. I am his friend and we get along well, and always have a laugh."

Libby

 

Libby aged 10 praised for her writing about living with autism

Libby, 10, is our youngest hero of the year after her words about living with autism inspired people all around the world.

Famous authors thanked Libby for her poignant description of a typical day of living with the condition.

Her mum, Kym Scott, described being "blown away" by her daughter’s words.

"She has spent her life feeling different to others. To now see this confidence in a world where she feels she doesn't belong is magical."