A Hamilton teenager says the accolades he’s received since he rushed into a burning tent to help a man who was trapped inside have overwhelmed him.
Zeke Fox, a 17-year-old high school student, was driving home from a friend’s house when he noticed unusual smoke as he passed near Bayfront Park.
“There was a cloud of smoke coming down the road,” Fox said. “What caught my attention was that the smoke was black and I’m used to seeing smoke coming out of tents. But again, the smoke was black, which means plastic was burning. »
Fox pulled his pickup truck to the side of the road to figure out what was happening.
“And at that moment there were a few bangs and then the tent caught fire. And it hasn’t been slow, it’s just increased all at once,” he told Global News.
“I ran to the tent and heard a man screaming for help, as if he was shouting, “Help me!” »
After hearing the man’s screams, Fox called his parents, who were in their nearby home getting ready for bed.
“I said, ‘Dad, you need to call 911, there’s a tent on fire. There’s someone inside. I don’t know if I can achieve it, but I’m going to do what I can,” Fox said.
He then spoke to his mother, who implored him to step aside and let the authorities do their job.
“I said, ‘Mom, there’s someone inside, I can’t stand back and just watch this happen.’ I need to help,” Fox said.
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The Cathedral High School student entered the burning tent to try to help.
“This gentleman was stuck in a tarp that prevented him from getting out on his own, so I managed to get him out,” he explained, noting that he was back outside in seconds.
“Once I got him out of the tent, he was still badly burned, his clothes were still on fire, I took him out of the tent and rolled him in the snow,” he said. declared.
“It didn’t put out the fire on his clothes, so I found a cloth or something on the floor and started putting out the fire.”
Fox said several Hamilton police officers then arrived on the scene and took over.
“Zeke put himself in danger and then pulled the man to safety to save his life,” said Det. Greg Blunsdon told Global News in an email Thursday.
Police said the man, aged in his 50s, was taken to hospital with burns to his body. He is currently intubated and in stable but still critical condition.
Police do not believe there is anything suspicious related to the fire and are not investigating.
Fox was hospitalized for smoke inhalation and was released after a few hours, according to police.
Zach Fox spent a few hours in the hospital after his heroic efforts.
Christine Renard
“Once I was treated for everything, my brain calmed down and I had time to stop and think, I myself was surprised that I reacted so quickly and to have been able to help this gentleman to the extent that I did,” he said. .
The courtyard of his parents’ house overlooks the park and while his father ran to his son, his mother watched the events unfold from her garden.
“My mother was watching this happen from our backyard, and I can’t even imagine what was going through her mind watching the fire grow and not knowing where I was at the time,” Fox said.
“I told my parents about it and they said I definitely gave them a good scare, but they are extremely proud of me.”
Word spread around Hamilton about the student’s heroism. Fox said while he was grateful for the attention, it was also overwhelming.
“I didn’t expect this kind of reaction not only from the school, but also from the community,” he said. “I go to Tim Hortons on my lunch break and the staff wants to take pictures with me.
“I tell myself that I never in my life expected this.”
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