An Indiana man is set to receive a Carnegie Medal after he risked his own life to save a 6-year-old girl from a burning building.

At the Right Place at the Right Time

According to a report from the Washington Post, on a July evening in 2022, Indiana resident Nicholas Bostic was driving in Lafayette, Indiana when he saw a house that was on fire. He quickly stopped his car, and when he realized he had left his phone at home and couldn't dial 911, he sprung into action.

Nicholas Bostic Saved 5 People from a Burning Home

There were five people in the home at the time - an 18-year-old young woman, along with her 1-year-old, 6-year-old, and 13-year-old sibling, as well as another teen that is friends with the 13-year-old. Bostic was able to help the young woman and three of the children escape the home, but one of the children was still inside. The Washington Post says,

Bostic had saved five lives in under 15 minutes.

 

What Happened Next Has Earned Bostic a Prestigious Award

While it is highly unlikely that winning any kind of award was on his mind, when Bostic learned that the young woman had been able to get three of the children safely out of the home, but that one may still remain inside, he sprung to action. According to a report from CBSNews in July of 2022, the 25-year-old man had to bust out a second-story window before jumping from the burning house with the little girl in his arms,

Because of the dense smoke, he said his only option was to exit through a second-floor window. Bostic punched out the glass and jumped to safety with the 6-year-old girl in his arms. He suffered multiple injuries but the girl only suffered a minor cut to her foot.

What Happened After the Heroic Rescue

The little girl is said to have only suffered a minor cut to one of her feet. Bostic, however, sustained injuries to his right arm, as well as burns to his right ankle, and right buttocks, and he was also suffering from smoke inhalation. Bostic was airlifted to a hospital in Indianapolis where he was treated and then later released a couple of days after the incident.

Bostic to Recieve Carnegie Medal

Due to his courageous efforts, Bostic has found himself on the list with fourteen other brave heroes who will all be awarded Carnegie Medals for their actions. The Carnegie Medal is the highest honor awarded to civilians in North America for acts of bravery. According to the Carnegie Hero website,

The Carnegie Hero Fund awards the Carnegie Medal to individuals in the United States and Canada who risk death or serious physical injury to an extraordinary degree saving or attempting to save the lives of others.

If you would like to nominate someone for a Carnegie Medal, you can fill out a nomination form on the Carnegie Hero website, or submit your nomination in writing by mailing it to the Carnegie Hero Fund Commission, 436 Seventh Ave., Suite 1101, Pittsburgh, PA 15219.

See 11 Unique Attractions You'll Only Find in Indiana

From the World's Largest Ball of Paint to a pink elephant drinking a martini, the Hoosier State is filled with quirky little things worth a detour on your next road trip.

 

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