A devastating fire in Aberdeen, Washington, left a family homeless and a young man hospitalized with serious injuries.
In 2019, 20-year-old Derrick Byrd did not hesitate to enter the property when he realized that his 8-year-old niece Mercedes could not get out from the second floor because of panic. The young man, now 27, faced the flames directly to carry the little girl and protect her face with a garment, preventing her from inhaling the toxic smoke.
Because of his actions, Byrd was airlifted to Harborview Medical Center, where he received treatment for second- and third-degree burns on his back, arms, and face. Aberdeen police described the act as an exceptional display of bravery.