Captain braves fire to rescue 13-month-old baby.

Following the fire at a boarding house in Tan Thoi Hiep Ward, the story of Captain Huynh Tuan Kiet (35 years old, a police officer in Tan Thoi Hiep Ward, Ho Chi Minh City) who braved the flames, took off his shirt to shield and rescue a 13-month-old baby, spread widely, touching the hearts of millions of social media followers.

Haunted by the devastating fire.

The fire at the boarding house at 53E/1 Nguyen Thi Thoi Street, Ward 31, Tan Thoi Hiep Commune, Ho Chi Minh City, in the early morning of April 12th, resulted in two deaths and five injuries, leaving a lasting trauma for the residents. In that tragic situation, Captain Huynh Tuan Kiet rescued a 13-month-old baby from the flames. His actions not only demonstrated a spirit of rescue but also symbolized compassion. This event reminds us of the importance of quick response in emergency situations.

The moment Captain Huynh Tuan Kiet braved the flames to rescue a 13-month-old child.

PHOTO: SCREENSHOT

Ms. Nguyen Thi To Loan (40 years old, a resident here for over 10 years) said she still vividly remembers the night the fire broke out. She recounted that at around 3 a.m., she woke up to the smell of burning and the sound of screams. Seeing thick smoke billowing from the upstairs, Ms. Loan rushed downstairs.

The moment she saw the baby being rescued from the fire by the police officer, her heart sank. "The baby didn't cry, he was silent in the officer's arms. The police officer took off his shirt to cover the baby, and he was also injured. I heard that he was climbing over when the corrugated iron roof suddenly collapsed. At first, I didn't know he was a police officer because he wasn't wearing a uniform," Ms. To Loan recalled.

Speaking to us, Ms. Ngo Thi Hai Au (39 years old, residing in Tan Thoi Hiep Ward), the child's aunt, said that the baby has now been discharged from the hospital and returned home. The child's parents, who were treated at the hospital, are also gradually recovering. "The father's condition was more serious, but he has now started eating porridge, and both of them can walk around," Ms. Hai Au said.

Ms. Hai Au said that at around 4 a.m., she and her husband received a phone call informing them that a family member was being treated at the Central American West General Hospital and was in critical condition. Since their house was nearby, the couple rushed over to where their relative was. Seeing the thick smoke, she was terrified and quickly went to the hospital.

"At that time, there was a man holding my child. Later, I found out it was Mr. Kiet, a police officer from the ward. My child is currently living with my husband and me. She's well-behaved, and luckily, because she's a child, her wounds heal quickly. Fortunately, Mr. Kiet climbed up to the house that night to rescue her. If she had been alone up there in that smoke, I would have been terrified. Her father was exhausted after breaking through the ventilation hole to get her out, and her mother fainted from the smoke. My family is grateful to Mr. Kiet and the police from Tan Thoi Hiep ward," Ms. Hai Au shared.

Captain Huynh Tuan Kiet rescues 13-month-old baby: "It's okay, baby, you're safe now!"

Captain Huynh Tuan Kiet is an officer in the Crime Prevention and Control Team of Tan Thoi Hiep Police Station. Recalling the story, he said that as a police officer, it was his job and that of his colleagues. "That night, while working with a fraud suspect, I received a fire alarm. I handed over the case to my colleagues and went to the scene with them," the captain recalled, adding that he didn't have time to change out of his uniform because he was in such a hurry.

Captain Huynh Tuan Kiet said that he, or anyone else, would have done the same thing in that situation.

PHOTO: THANH DA

He recounted that upon arriving, he saw the fire raging fiercely, with thick smoke billowing out. Realizing it would be difficult to control the blaze, he decided to climb the iron ladder on the side of the building to find another way to approach and hopefully rescue those still trapped inside.

"With the power out and thick smoke everywhere, I clung to the wall and jumped to the next house for safety. At that moment, a sheet of corrugated iron collapsed. I managed to grab onto the wall and climb up. I made my way to the upper floor, trying to open the windows, hoping to save someone," Captain Kiet recalled.

During the approach, the captain saw a dimly lit child lying in the smoke-filled, high-temperature area at the far end of the house next door. "I took off my shirt, hugged the child, and patted him: 'It's okay, son, you're safe now.' The child was about the same age as my own. His legs were trembling. He had many bloodstains on his body," Captain Kiet recounted.

But when they got to the ground floor of the house, the captain said the roller door was out of power and locked, making escape impossible. He hugged the child and ran back up to the rooftop to find another way out when he suddenly heard his colleagues shouting. Everyone used crowbars to pry open the roller door, helping the two of them escape.

Immediately afterwards, he took the baby straight to the hospital: "At that time, the baby's parents had a poor prognosis. I carried the baby close to the mother and said to her: 'The baby is safe now, you two can hold on.' The mother nodded..."

When the victim's family arrived, the captain handed over the baby, returned to his unit to continue his unfinished work, and was on duty until the next day. When the video clip of the fire and images of the man braving the flames and taking off his shirt to save the 13-month-old baby went viral on social media, many called him "the hero without a cape."

"I, my teammates, or anyone else in that situation would have done the same. Don't call me a hero, I'm too embarrassed," he said.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/dai-uy-bang-qua-dam-chay-cuu-thoat-em-be-13-thang-tuoi-185260420200743446.htm