On Monday, 8-year-old Tyler J. Doohan begged his mother to stay the night with his grandfather at a family member’s mobile home in upstate New York.
But when Tyler, of East Rochester, noticed a fire in the single-wide trailer, he knew he had to do something. While firefighters responded to the home around 4:45 a.m., Tyler was able to wake six others (including two children, aged four and six) and guide them out of the home, according to Penfield Fire Chief Chris Ebmeyer.
But when he went back to save his disabled uncle, he was unable to get out.
“By that time, the fire had traveled to the back of the trailer,” Ebmeyer said. “Unfortunately they both succumbed to heat and smoke.”
Their bodies were found together in a back bedroom, lying in bed. His grandfather, who he chose to stay the night with, was also killed in the fire. His body was found in the front room of the house.
Authorities are looking into what caused the blaze, but it is believed to be accidental.
“He saved those other six people,” Ebmeyer said.
The local school superintendent says he wasn’t surprised to hear of Tyler’s actions.
“That’s the type of young man he was, and in my heart and the heart of East Rochester, he’s a true hero.”
Our prayers go out to Tyler’s family.
SOURCE: CNN | VIDEO SOURCE: News, Inc.
