Man Severely Burnt Trying To Save Baby In Makurdi.

Doctors at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital, BSUTH are battling to save the life of a 27- year old man, Michael Anthony who ran into a house engulfed by fire to rescue a 16-month old baby trapped in the fire.

Mrs. Shiminenge Terfa, mother of the 16-month old baby, Saameyol Terfa told Saturday Pilot that the incident took place at about 8 pm Tuesday night when she left her four children in the house to go and buy drugs within the vicinity of her house located opposite Vaatia College at the Owner-Occupier area of Makurdi, Benue State capital.

She suspected that the fire which engulfed her four-room apartment and trapped her children may have been sparked off by a candle light.

While the other three children, according to her were rescued by neighbours, Saameyol, the 16-month old baby boy, was not as lucky as he was forgotten in the burning house.

His cry in the burning furnace drew the attention of neighbours who watched helplessly as the inferno spread across the building.

It was at that point that Michael Anthony who is also a neighbour to the parents against all odds rushed into burning house as he could not watch the child die in the inferno.

When he came out, he was seen covering the baby while his entire body was burning.

Michael’s elder brother, Charles who works with the Lord’s chosen said he was not at home when the incident took place but said he quickly conveyed his brother and the baby to BSUTH with the official vehicle of his place of work.

Charles who commended his younger brother for the bravery called on government at all levels, corporate organisations and well meaning Nigerians to come to his rescue stressing that the financial implication of treatment at the hospital was too much for the family to shoulder.

“I do not know how to express it. He took that risk because of the cry of the little baby. He was wondering how he would watch the baby die, he sacrificed his life to save the baby, we glorify God for that act”, Charles said.

When Saturday Pilot visited the Intensive Care Unit, ICU of the hospital where Michael was lying critically ill, a doctor who declined to disclose his identity said Michael sustained mixed burns with first and second degrees burns at different parts of the body.

The doctor who said Michael was responding to treatment assured of his recovery with the help of God and money.

Reported by Abraham H Orker Jev