A man from Washington is being called a hero after he ran into a burning house to save his eight-year-old niece.
According to reports, 20-year-old Derrick Byrd suffered second and third-degree burns on his face, back, and arms after rushing into the house when he realized his niece was trapped inside.
Speaking to KOMO-TV, Byrd said: “Even though I got burnt, I didn’t really care. I’d rather get burnt than her. She’s young and still has so much ahead of her. She’s a good kid.”
The fire broke out in a home in Aberdeen, Washington, while Derrick Byrd and six other family members were inside, including his sister Kayla and her three children.
When the fire spread, Byrd helped his nephews, Junior and Royce, jump out of a second-story window to safety. However, his eight-year-old niece Mercedes was too scared to jump after watching her mother, Kayla, fall from the roof.
Without hesitating, Byrd ran back into the burning house to save Mercedes. He quickly felt the flames burning him.
“I could feel it burning me,” he said.
Byrd wrapped his shirt around Mercedes’ face to protect her from the smoke and carried her out of the house as fast as he could.
Despite suffering burns, Byrd said he’d do it all again if needed.
“I’d run back in there and do it again, even if I got burnt worse or died,” he said.
When people called him a hero, Byrd humbly responded, “I wouldn’t say I’m a hero. I just wasn’t going to let my niece and nephews die.”
Bikers found an ABANDONED DOG holding a plastic BAG in his mouth: When they looked inside they were shocked and RAN immediately for help, here’s what the dog PROTECTED
During a bike ride with his friends, Paul Skinner, aged 58, encountered a disturbing sight on a quiet stretch of road. Spotting movement in a ditch, they approached cautiously and discovered a frightened dog attempting to protect a sack with its jaws. What they found inside shocked them deeply.
Upon opening the sack, they discovered four deceased puppies, all seemingly born recently. The men were horrified by the tragic scene and immediately contacted the authorities. Animal shelter representatives arrived promptly and took custody of the mother dog, whom they named Carly.
Investigations revealed that Carly had been abandoned with her puppies shortly after giving birth. Despite being left alone, Carly never left her puppies’ side. Tragically, she was unable to free them from the tightly knotted plastic bag in which they were found.
This heartbreaking act of cruelty has sparked outrage, with calls for justice against those responsible for such heinous acts of animal abuse. Carly, identified as a Cocker Spaniel, has become a symbol of resilience and maternal devotion, staying with her puppies until the very end despite the lack of food, water, and shelter.
Instances of animal neglect and abandonment are sadly becoming more frequent, highlighting the urgent need for stricter laws and harsher penalties for offenders. It is hoped that Carly will find a loving home where she can receive the care and compassion she deserves after enduring such a traumatic experience. Carly’s story serves as a poignant reminder of the unconditional love and loyalty that animals can show, even in the face of unimaginable hardship and cruelty.
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