NATIONAL NEWS

Man driving by burning home in Indiana stops to rescue 5 children inside

Jul 19, 2022, 6:16 AM | Updated: Feb 13, 2023, 2:50 pm
Seen on body camera footage, Nicholas Bostic is treated by first responders after rescuing several ...
Seen on body camera footage, Nicholas Bostic is treated by first responders after rescuing several children from a burning home in Lafayette, Indiana, on July 11. (Lafayette Police)
(Lafayette Police)

(CNN) — A man in Indiana is being hailed as a hero by local officials after entering a home engulfed in flames last week and saving the lives of several children trapped inside the burning structure.

Nicholas Bostic, 25, was driving in Lafayette, Indiana, just after midnight on July 11 when he saw a house on fire, according to a news release from the Lafayette Police Department, and pulled into the home’s driveway.

Bostic was able to enter through a back door that was open and began to check if there was anyone in the home, according to the release. As he went upstairs he found four children — ages ranging from one to 18 years old — asleep and woke them, helping them escape the home.

Once Bostic was able to get the children out of the house, he learned that a fifth child, a six-year-old girl, was still inside. Heading back in, he searched for the girl and when he heard crying, ultimately located her, police said.

Bostic was not able to find a way out on the main floor as the flames intensified, police said, and the two would be forced to jump out of a second-floor window to safety. Bostic had to break the window with his hand to get it open, the release said.

“I did try to find the back door, but I couldn’t find it and I didn’t want to get too lost,” Bostic told CNN affiliate WLFI.

Lafayette Police Department posted dramatic video on social media showing the moment firefighters arrive at the home, and Bostic is later seen walking from the flame-engulfed home with the girl in his arms. As he approaches fire department personnel, he hands the girl to the firefighters and sits on the ground.

“Is the baby, OK? Please tell me that baby is OK,” Bostic asks as he is being treated. A police officer confirms and tells him, “You did good, dude.”

Bostic was seriously injured during the rescue, according to authorities, suffering from smoke inhalation and deep cuts on his right arm. The girl “was miraculously mostly uninjured,” according to the release.

Bostic told WLFI he has a possible severed tendon in his arm. “The bottom of my hands are blistered like I grabbed something hot. I recall seeing flames through the window as I was punching it out,” he said.

A spokesperson for Lafayette Police told CNN the family is doing well and has since met with Bostic at a friend’s house and at church. The parents had left for the evening and the 18-year-old was with the children, police say.

“Nicholas Bostic’s heroic actions saved lives,” Lafayette Police said in the statement. “His selflessness during this incident is inspiring, and he impressed many with his courage, tenacity, and steadfast calmness in the face of such perilous dangers.”

GoFundMe* has been established by Bostic’s family to help with his medical bills.


*KSL TV does not assure that the money deposited to the account will be applied for the benefit of the persons named as beneficiaries. If you are considering a deposit to the account, you should consult your own advisers and otherwise proceed at your own risk.


The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved.

KSL 5 TV Live

Top Stories

National News

Children and a woman depart the reunification center at the Woodmont Baptist church after a school ...
Jonathan Mattise, Travis Loller and Holly Meyer

Nashville shooter who killed 6 drew maps, surveilled school

Police say a former student shot through the doors of a Christian elementary school and killed three children and three adults after elaborately planning the massacre by drawing out a detailed map and conducting surveillance of the building.
9 hours ago
Almost two months after a train carrying hazardous materials derailed in the town of East Palestine...
Brenda Goodman

Government to step up efforts to monitor health of East Palestine residents, first responders

Almost two months after a train carrying hazardous materials derailed in the town of East Palestine, Ohio, the state Department of Health is preparing to offer blood and urine testing and physical exams to first responders who rushed to fight the blaze.
1 day ago
A group prays with a child outside the reunification center at the Woodmont Baptist church after a ...
Associated Press

Nashville school shooter had drawn maps, done surveillance

The suspect, who was killed by police, is believed to be a former student at The Covenant School in Nashville, where the shooting took place.
1 day ago
Local officials say they are standing with the six people killed Monday in a shooting at the Covena...
Eric Levenson and Jennifer Henderson

Victims of Nashville school shooting identified

An armed person fatally shot three 9-year-old students and three adults at a private Christian elementary school in Nashville.
1 day ago
Adele performs on stage as American Express present BST Hyde Park in Hyde Park on July 02, 2022 in ...
Associated Press

Adele extends Las Vegas residency, plans concert film

Adele has announced that she’s extending her Las Vegas residency with 34 more dates between June and November and also plans to release a concert film.
1 day ago
Ron DeSantis...
Bridger Beal-Cvetko, KSL.com

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to headline Utah GOP convention

Utah Republican delegates will hear from Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis during the party's organizing convention next month.
1 day ago

Sponsored Articles

Stack of old laptops with dark background...
PC Laptops

Old Laptop Upgrades You Need to Try Before Throwing it Away

Get the most out of your investment. Try these old laptop upgrades before throwing it out to keep it running fast and efficient.
Happy diverse college or university students are having fun on their graduation day...
BYU MBA at the Marriott School of Business

How to Choose What MBA Program is Right for You: Take this Quiz Before You Apply!

Wondering what MBA program is right for you? Take this quiz before you apply to see if it will help you meet your goals.
Close up of an offset printing machine during production...
Les Olson IT

Top 7 Reasons to Add a Production Printer to Your Business

Learn about the different digital production printers and how they can help your company save time and money.
vintage photo of lighting showroom featuring chandeliers, lamps, wall lights and mirrors...
Lighting Design

History of Lighting Design | Over 25 Years of Providing Utah With the Latest Trends and Styles

Read about the history of Lighting Design, a family-owned and operated business that paved the way for the lighting industry in Utah.
Fiber Optical cables connected to an optic ports and Network cables connected to ethernet ports...
Brian Huston, CE and Anthony Perkins, BICSI

Why Every Business Needs a Structured Cabling System

A structured cabling system benefits businesses by giving you faster processing speeds and making your network more efficient and reliable.
notebook with password notes highlighted...
PC Laptops

How to Create Strong Passwords You Can Actually Remember

Learn how you can create strong passwords that are actually easy to remember! In a short time you can create new ones in seconds.
Man driving by burning home in Indiana stops to rescue 5 children inside