The Tale of Derrick Byrd: A Hero Who Saved His Niece and Nephews from a Burning House
Derrick Byrd’s selfless act of bravery is a testament that heroes come in all forms and don’t necessarily wear capes. The people in his village are lauding him as a hero for sacrificing his life to save his niece and nephews from a devastating house fire that broke out in their Aberdeen, Washington home.
At the time of the incident, there were six people inside the house, including Derrick’s sister Kayla and her three children. Quick to act, Derrick realized that time was of the essence and jumped out of the second-floor window with his nephews in his arms. His eight-year-old niece Mercedes witnessed her mother fall from the roof but opted not to jump.
Without hesitation, Derrick re-entered the house to save his trapped niece. Despite feeling the flames burning his face, he prioritized saving Mercedes above all else, covering her face with his shirt to prevent her from inhaling smoke as he carried her out to safety.
Derrick suffered severe burns on his face, back, and arms as a result of his heroic deed. Though his recovery was a painful process, he says he would do it again if needed, stating that saving his young niece was more important than anything else.
In a KOMO-TV interview, Derrick humbly responded to people calling him a hero by saying, “I can’t say a hero. I’d just say for my niece and nephews, I wasn’t going to let them die.”
Derrick Byrd is the kind of uncle anyone would want, and we wish him a speedy recovery. Watch the video below for more on his inspiring story, and don’t forget to share it with your loved ones on Facebook.
We all hope for a swift recovery for Derrick Byrd, the type of uncle anyone would want.