Footage from several years ago has resurfaced on social media showing a young man selflessly running into a burning house twice to save five children. Putting his own life on the line, the 25-year-old pizza delivery driver, Nicholas Bostic, even jumped through a second story window to prevent the children from dying in the building.
The incident began when Bostic was driving past the house in Lafayette, Indiana, when he spotted a fire that was starting to consume the building. According to reports, Bostic did not have his cell phone to notify emergency responders, so he jumped into action, taking matters into his own hands. Repeatedly charging into the building, Bostic was able to save four siblings, ages 18, 13, 6, and 1. Another 13-year-old was spending the night at the residence as well.
After Bostic successfully rescued four individuals, he realized that the 6-year-old was still unaccounted for, prompting him to rush back into the house despite the growing flames. Fighting through blazing hot temperatures and thick, billowing smoke, he finally located the child and punched through a window, jumping from the second story, sustaining serious injuries.
A statement from Lafayette Police Department Lt Randy Sherer read, “On July 11th, 2022, at approximately 12:30 a.m., the Lafayette Police Department and Lafayette Fire Department received reports of a house fire in the 2200 block of Union Street. When officers arrived, the house was fully engulfed in flames, and the intensity of the fire prevented emergency personnel from entering the residence. Information was gathered that a 6-year-old child was possibly still inside the home, and emergency personnel began to hastily attempt to combat the fire to attempt a rescue.”
“At approximately 12:36 a.m., a male, who had entered the home prior to emergency personnel arriving, jumped through a window of the second-story house and landed on the ground with the 6-year-old child who had been trapped inside. The male, later identified as 25-year-old Nicholas Bostic of Lafayette, was seriously injured during the incident- suffering from severe smoke inhalation and gravely cutting his right arm. The 6-year-old child was miraculously mostly uninjured,” Sherer’s statement continued.
The City of Lafayette recognized Bostic for his brave actions which saved five innocent lives. “Nicholas Bostic’s heroic actions saved lives. His selflessness exhibited when he rushed into a burning Lafayette home to save children trapped inside is inspiring, and he has impressed many with his courage, tenacity, and steadfast calmness in the face of such perilous danger. The Lafayette Police Department, the Lafayette Fire Department, and the Honorable Mayor Tony Roswarski are eternally grateful for Nicholas’s intervention and would like to publicly recognize him for his actions. On August 2nd, during National Night Out at the Aviators game, Nicholas will be honored, and we invite you all to attend,” the post read.
Watch the footage below:
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Note: The featured image is a screenshot from the embedded video.