8-Year-Old Boy Dies After Rescuing 6 People From Burning Home

By Erin Gloria Ryan  |  January 22, 2014 | 6:20pm
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Saddest: Firefighters say an 8-year-old boy who saved 6 people from an early morning fire in Penfield, New York lost his life while trying to save a 7th person — his disabled uncle.

According to local news, nine people were sleeping in the trailer owned by the grandparents of Tyler J. Doohan when the fire broke out at 4:45 am on Monday morning. Tyler was the first to wake up, and he immediately roused 6 other people, including a 4 year old and a 6 year old. After they were safely outside, he went back in.

Tyler’s body was found near the bed of his 52-year-old uncle, who was disabled and got around with the aid of a wheelchair and cane. Authorities think it’s because the boy was trying to help him escape the house as well. The boy’s grandfather also was killed.

School officials from Tyler’s school said,

With great sadness, the East Rochester School District confirms one of the three victims of an early-morning fire in Penfield was a fourth-grade boy at our school.
It is extremely important to remember that according to emergency personnel, (Tyler) was the person who discovered the fire and tried to wake the eight other people in the residence at the time. In bravely and selflessly giving his own life, he was able to save the lives of six others — and he is truly a hero.

To reiterate: saddest.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ll be texting everyone I love while my tears mix with snot and drip down my chin.

 
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