A Georgia home-owner has recounted how a quick-thinking passerby saved him from his burning house final month by kicking down a locked storm door to drag him to security.
David McConnell informed 5 Atlanta that he was taking a nap in his Winterville house on the afternoon of Oct. 29 when a noise from the kitchen woke him up.
“I heard some popping and snapping and crackling,” McConnell stated, including that he went again to sleep considering the sound would go away.
McConnell solely realized one thing was flawed when the fireplace alarm went off. He informed the outlet that he jumped away from bed and located thick smoke engulfing the within of his house.
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Firefighters responded to a home hearth in Winterville, Georgia, round 5 p.m. on Oct. 29. (Athens-Clarke County Fire Department)
“You could not see out my backdoor or my window,” McConnell stated. “That was pretty scary.”
McConnel stated he tried to exit the house by way of his entrance door however discovered the storm door locked.
Fire officers stated that the roof collapsed when first responders arrived. (Athens-Clarke County Fire Department)
Dylan Betts, a superb Samaritan who was driving by on his means house from work, stopped when he noticed the smoke and raced to assist.
“I ripped off and then kicked it in,” Betts stated of the locked storm door.
No accidents have been reported because of the fireplace. (Athens-Clarke County Fire Department)
Betts stated he stepped inside the house by way of a “thick wall of black smoke” and known as out.
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“Mr. David, luckily, heard my voice, and he came right to me,” Betts informed 5.
The hearth was believed to have began within the storage earlier than spreading all through the house. (Athens-Clarke County Fire Department)
When the outlet requested Betts why he risked his life to save lots of a stranger, Betts responded, “Why not? That’s America.”
McConnell stated that his household calls Betts “our hero,” and even gave Betts tickets to a Georgia/Tennessee soccer recreation as a small thanks for saving his life.
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The Athens-Clarke County Fire Department stated the fireplace originated within the storage and unfold all through the construction, in keeping with the station. Firefighters arrived to seek out deteriorating situations, together with a roof collapse. No accidents have been reported.
