8-year-old boy rescues 6 before dying in blaze


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A fourth-grade boy died in a fire in his grandfather's Penfield, New York, trailer home after helping to save six of his relatives. Tyler Doohan, 8, had returned to the blaze in an attempt to help rescue his disabled uncle, reports the Democrat & Chronicle.

 

Tyler, his uncle Steve Smith and his grandfather Louis J. Beach died in the inferno this past weekend.

According to the Democrat & Chronicle, citing investigators, Tyler took it upon himself to wake his sleeping relatives once he detected the fire at around 4:45 a.m. on Monday. Two of the people Tyler helped save were children, ages 4 and 6.  Tyler's body was found near the bed of his deceased uncle.

"The kid has more guts than I know of," Joseph Breyette, Tyler's uncle, told WHEC-TV. ?I mean, to run back in there and go through what he went through to try to save his uncle ? what can you say for the kid? He was a great kid.?

Breyette also spoke to 13-WHAM about the tragedy.

"It?s still hard to grip or even put your hands around it, you know," he said, "I don?t know why or what the plan of life is.?

WHEC-TV spoke with Richard Stutzman Jr., interim superintendent for Tyler's school.

"Tyler was a very caring young man, always had a smile on his face," Stutzman said. "Actually I just got an email from one of our staff members, who when they heard Tyler had gone back in, or continued to help his grandfather get out of the burning building, they were not surprised at all. That's the type of young man he was, and in my heart and the heart of East Rochester, he's a true hero.? :happy:

Investigators believe the fire was caused by an electrical problem, according to the Democrat & Chronicle. No foul play is suspected. Some witnesses reportedly expressed concern about the number of people living in the home.
Those who survived the fire were taken to a local hospital where they were treated for non-life-threatening injuries.

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Wow, a truly saddening story, he sounds like an amazing kid. I echo LOC's statement that if he was this amazing and caring as a child we can only imagine how brilliant he would have been as an adult.

 

RIP

 

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For some reason this quote seems appropriate

"The noir hero is a knight in blood caked armor. He's dirty and he does his best to deny the fact that he's a hero the whole time."

-- Frank Miller

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  • 2 weeks later...

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/boy-saved-family-fire-firefighter-funeral-article-1.1596405

Heroic boy, 9, who saved family from fire given firefighter's funeral

The heroic boy from upstate New York who saved six relatives but died trying to save his grandfather from a blaze was honored with a full firefighter's funeral Wednesday.

Tyler Doohan, who was just 9 years old, was laid to rest at St. John of Rochester Catholic Church in front of hundreds of mourners.

Firefighters stood at attention in Class A dress uniforms as bagpipers played traditional music.

Penfield Fire Chief Chris Ebmeyer presented the youngster's family with a fire helmet inscribed with his name, before declaring him to be an "honorary firefighter."

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And in case no one's been to a firefighters funeral, off duty representative firefighters, and many cops, from departments for miles around show up. Sometimes from other states. Quite a sendoff.

(Many firefightets in the family. When my father-in-law passed, a retired Fire Marshal & Asst. Chief, the procession was 5 miles long.)

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That kid deserved that funeral. Saving 6 people before sadly dying. Tragic story, shame he didn't live through it. :/.

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