From one incredible survival story to another now, with reports detailing how a father in the US managed to save his entire family from a fire this weekend.
Walter Lewis, from Indiana, has been praised for his heroics when he rescued his wife and their children after the fire broke out at their home.
Explaining what happened to local media, Mr Lewis recalled how he was first alerted to the fire when he heard the family’s beloved bulldog, Rock, barking downstairs. Mr Lewis got up to see what was ailing Rock, and was surprised when he met the dog running up the stairs towards him; something that was totally out of character for the dog.
Speaking to WANE-TV News Channel 15, Mr Lewis said: “I go down the stairs, and when I get to the bottom of the stairs, I see fire and I immediately turn and start yelling for my wife to get up and get the kids up."
“I got everybody out on the roof and threw a blanket out there so we wouldn’t slip off of the roof, and I start screaming for help,” he added.
HERO | Walter Lewis saved his family from an Oliver Street house fire Friday morning. He carried his 9-month-old son...
Posted by WANE-TV NewsChannel 15 on Friday, January 15, 2016
One of Mr Lewis’ greatest fears is heights, but when nobody was coming to his family’s aid, he knew he had to take action. He proceeded to jump straight off of the roof, grab a ladder, and climb up to rescue each member of his family.
Describing how he got everyone down safely, he revealed: “I had to carry my nine-month-old in my teeth, by his little sleeper. I had my daughter wrapped up around my arms, and I had to walk down. I had her hold her brother, and I went up there and got my other daughter. Then, I went up and got my wife. I tried to get my dog, but he just disappeared in the black smoke.”
Sadly, Rock died in the fire, but the Lewis family will never forget that he was the one who alerted them and, essentially, saved their lives.
“I live to protect my family, and that’s what matters. Just like Rock. He lived to protect us,” said Mr Lewis.
