The tale of a valiant uncle named Derrick Byrd serves as an illustration of how heroes do not always have to wear capes.
It is not unexpected that the residents of this brave man’s community have hailed him as a hero for offering his life to save the lives of his niece and nephew.
At the time of the fire at the family’s Aberdeen, Washington, home, six people were present, including Derrick’s sister Kayla and her three children.
Quick-thinking Derrick grabbed his nephews and jumped out of the window from the second level while carrying them in his arms after realizing that the home may potentially burn down in no time.
His 8-year-old niece Mercedes observed her mother fall from the roof but decided not to leap.
Derrick quickly went back into the house to free his niece who was locked inside.
Once inside, he could feel the flames scalding his face, but saving Mercedes came first.
“I could feel it burning me,” he averred.
“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.”
Derrick had second- and third-degree burns on his face, back, and arms as a result of his brave act. He had a long recuperation and felt a lot of agony, but he claims he would do it again if necessary.
“Even though I burned myself, I honestly didn’t care. I would much sooner burn than her. She is young. She still has a lot working in her favor. She’s a good kid, he said, adding that.
“Even if I died or got more burned, I’d go back in there and do it again.”
Derrick, who is modest, responded to people calling him a hero by saying, “I can’t say a hero. I’d just like to express that I wasn’t going to allow my niece and nephew to pass away.
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