A man in Indiana is being hailed as a hero after sustaining injuries while rescuing five children from a burning home. 25-year-old Nicholas Bostic is a pizza delivery driver from Lafayette who noticed raging flames coming out of a house while driving by it around midnight. Without wasting a moment’s time, he ran into the house through the back door and began yelling, waking up four children, aged 1 to 18, who were sleeping upstairs.
Bostic then helped them get out only to learn that a 6-year-old child might still be inside. “Without hesitation” he ran back to the bedroom upstairs, according to a release from the Lafayette Police Department (LPD). After searching for a while, he began looking for an exit when he couldn’t find anyone there. Just then he heard cries coming from downstairs, according to TODAY.
Here’s the video to go along with the story. pic.twitter.com/TvZ5wzCg1f
— LafayetteINPolice (@LafayetteINPD) July 15, 2022
Covering his mouth and nose with his shirt, Bostic went down to investigate and thankfully located the child before it was too late. After retrieving the kid, he was unable to find the door because of a dense film of smoke. He managed to return upstairs and punch a window open before jumping out while making sure that the child was safe during the landing. Thankfully, the child was “miraculously mostly uninjured.”
Heroic actions of a Lafayette Citizen saves the lives of several children! #hero #inspiring #courage #awesome @City_Lafayette pic.twitter.com/s5eLfNs21Q
— LafayetteINPolice (@LafayetteINPD) July 14, 2022
As per the release, Bostic suffered severe smoke inhalation and even cut his arm while jumping out of the second-story window of the house. Bodycam footage shared by the police department shows Bostic carrying the child from around the side of the house and handing them over to first responders. Medics are then seen tending to his injuries.
“Is the baby OK? Please tell me that baby’s OK,” asks the concerned man as officers assure him that the child was doing fine. “You did good, dude,” says one medic. Bostic was then taken to a hospital in Indianapolis and released a few days later following treatment. “And we’re going home!!” wrote his girlfriend Kara Lewis sharing a Facebook photo of Bostic smiling.
“Nicholas Bostic’s heroic actions saved lives. His selflessness during this incident 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 and the Honorable Mayor Tony Roswarski are eternally grateful for Nicholas’ intervention and would like to publicly recognize him for his actions,” read a statement from the LPD.
The police department plans to honor Bostic for his heroic actions on August 2 at the Lafayette Aviators’ National Night Out. A GoFundMe campaign and a Facebook fundraiser have been launched help cover Bostic’s medical expenses.
Cover image source: GoFundMe | Nick Bostic, hero(Nicholas Bostic)
