A Washington man is rightfully being hailed a hero after charging into a burning home to save his eight-year-old niece.
Reports detail how 20-year-old Derrick Byrd suffered second and third-degree burns on his face, back, and arms, having rushed into the building when he became aware his niece was trapped.
Speaking to KOMO-TV, he said: “Even though I got burnt, I really didn’t care, though. I’d rather get burnt than her. She’s young. She’s still got a lot of stuff going for her. She’s a good kid.”
The fire, at a home in Aberdeen, Washington is believed to have started while Byrd and six other family members were inside, including his sister, Kayla, and her three children.
Byrd caught his nephews, Junior and Royce, when they jumped from a window on the second floor. His eight-year-old niece Mercedes, however, was too afraid to jump after having watched Kayla fall from the roof.
Without thinking, Byrd dashed back into the house to rescue her. Within moments, he could feel the flames on him.
“I could feel it burning me,” he explained.
“I got her and took my shirt off and put it around her face so she wouldn’t breathe in any smoke and I just carried her out as fast as I could.”
True hero
What’s more, despite suffering injuries, Byrd said he would do it again if he had to.
“I’d run back in there and do it again even if I got burnt worse or died.”
Commenting on all those dubbing him a hero, he simply replied: “I can’t say a hero. I’d just say for my niece and nephews, I wasn’t going to let them die.”
What a genuine hero Derrick Byrd truly is. In moments like that, people’s true colours are shown, and Derrick can certainly be proud of his.
ОUR ТНОUGНТS АND РRАYЕRS GО ОUТ ТО JЕNNIFЕR GАRNЕR FОR НЕR ТRАGIС LОSS
Jennifer Garner has had a successful career in Hollywood, but she has also stayed close to her parents.
The actress wrote on social media on Monday that her dad had died. He was 85 years old.
William John Garner was Jennifer Gardner’s dad. Who was he?
KBTX News 3 says that William John “Billy” Garner went to Texas A&M University and got his Bachelor of Chemical Engineering in 1961 and his Master of Chemical Engineering in 1976.
Stephen Garner was the dad of Jennifer Garner, Susannah Kay Garner Carpenter, and Melissa Garner Wylie.
Pat Garner, their mother, was his wife for almost 60 years.
Jennifer wrote a blog post on January 1, 2024, to celebrate her parents’ 59th wedding anniversary.
“Happy 59th wedding anniversary to my loving and sweet parents!” “Thank you, Mom and Dad, for making sure my sisters and I had a safe and happy childhood,” she wrote.
She was born in Texas and grew up in Charleston, West Virginia.
The Hindustan Times says that William worked for Union Carbide as a chemical engineer.
What kiIIed William John Garner?
“My dad died in peace on Saturday afternoon.” When he left, we were with him and sang “Amazing Grace.” Did we carry him across or scare him away? That’s a good question. “The dеаth of an 85-year-old man who lived a healthy, happy life is not a tragedy, but I know that grief is inevitable and can come up at any time,” she wrote.
“Today is a day to be thankful,” she said.
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