A Washington man is rightfully being hailed a hero after charging into a burning home to save his eight-year-old niece.
Reports detail how 20-year-old Derrick Byrd suffered second and third-degree burns on his face, back, and arms, having rushed into the building when he became aware his niece was trapped.
Speaking to KOMO-TV, he said: “Even though I got burnt, I really didn’t care, though. I’d rather get burnt than her. She’s young. She’s still got a lot of stuff going for her. She’s a good kid.”
The fire, at a home in Aberdeen, Washington is believed to have started while Byrd and six other family members were inside, including his sister, Kayla, and her three children.
Byrd caught his nephews, Junior and Royce, when they jumped from a window on the second floor. His eight-year-old niece Mercedes, however, was too afraid to jump after having watched Kayla fall from the roof.
Without thinking, Byrd dashed back into the house to rescue her. Within moments, he could feel the flames on him.
“I could feel it burning me,” he explained.
“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.”
True hero
What’s more, despite suffering injuries, Byrd said he would do it again if he had to.
“I’d run back in there and do it again even if I got burnt worse or died.”
Commenting on all those dubbing him a hero, he simply replied: “I can’t say a hero. I’d just say for my niece and nephews, I wasn’t going to let them die.”
What a genuine hero Derrick Byrd truly is. In moments like that, people’s true colours are shown, and Derrick can certainly be proud of his.
MICHAEL JACKSON’S SURROGATE SON BLANKET, 21, LOOKS ‘HANDSOME’ & ‘EXACTLY’ LIKE DAD, FANS CLAIM
Michael Jackson passed away in June 2009 due to cardiac arrest caused by an accidental drug overdose, leaving behind three children: Paris, Blanket (also known as “Bigi”), and Prince Jackson. On August 29, 2023, which would have been their late father’s 65th birthday,
Blanket and Prince were seen in Las Vegas after attending the “Michael Jackson ONE” show by Cirque du Soleil at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino. Paris, the third sibling, was on tour with the rock band Incubus.
Prince, in blue jeans and a gray T-shirt, engaged with fans, receiving a drawing of Michael and returning the gesture with a hug. Blanket, rarely seen in public, wore black attire, and fans noted his resemblance to Michael.
During a TV interview in 2021, Blanket, also known as Prince Michael Jackson II, expressed his passion for environmentalism and urged people to address climate change.
Born on February 21, 2002, via surrogate, Blanket is the only biological child of Michael Jackson. Reports suggest that a Mexican nurse named Helena served as the surrogate, chosen by Michael, with a separate egg donor. At Prince’s Thriller Night Halloween Party in 2021,
Blanket highlighted the historical significance of their home and studio, reflecting his father’s essence. He emphasized the family’s desire to create things for people’s enjoyment and benefit.
Having no plans to pursue a musical career like his father, Blanket maintains a low profile and resides in Calabasas, California, in a house purchased in March 2020.
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