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An Oregon teen is being hailed a hero after he rescued an 8-year-old boy from a fire that broke out in his home Monday, KATU.com reported.
Marcos Ugarte, 14, used a ladder to climb to a second-floor window of the burning Troutdale, Ore., home where a family of five lived. Alex Ma had tried unsuccessfully to get upstairs to rescue his son, Cody, 8, but he couldn't reach him through the thick smoke, ABC News reported.
Cody's parents, his grandmother Yim and brother Nathan had made it out safely, but Cody had locked himself in the room, the report said.
"When I arrived at the door of our neighbor's house, he [Alex Ma] was stumbling down the stairs because he had been completely engulfed in flames," Marcos' father, Eduardo Ugarte, told KATU. "He had soot coming out of his nose and his mouth, he had just ingested so much of it."
Marcos grabbed a ladder and climbed to the second floor, punching out the screen and grabbing the boy, according to KATU.
"I took the ladder, and I propped it up on the window, and I crawled up the window and punched the screen out ... and grabbed [the boy] and carried him down the ladder," the teenager told KATU soon after the rescue.
"I just told him to go feet first, and then he walked down the ladder, but I had my arm around him so he was secure," Marcos added. "He was scared at first and he didn't know if he should come out, and I was like, 'It's OK, come on, come on. I got you.' So he came out and he just walked down."
Investigators believe the fire was started by accident, KATU reported. It began inside Cody's room after 10 p.m. and spread to the rest of the house. According to KATU, Cody ran into another room and locked himself in, keeping the door shut and the smoke out.
"I may never forget their names because they're my heroes. They're my son's heroes forever," Alex Ma told KATU.
Marcos told KATU he received many congratulations at school, and the Gresham Fire Department also plans to honor him this year.
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Leave a Comment:
Awesome story. I only hope I can react like that, too, if need be!
I'm thinking the 8 year old locked himself in his room to play with fire. I know my boy is up to no good whenever he locks his door so I removed all bedroom door locks. Kudos to this teen. It gives me hope for the future generation.
you need to re-read the article george.
Anyway, awesome job to the rescuer.
Exactly what I was thinking. I only hope that if given the same situation, I could react in the same mature manner! Good job, Marcos, I applaud you!
Beachblondie, if the time ever comes, you will act. I saved a toddler about 40 yrs ago. I never heard about it again until the toddler, now a man looked me up and told me what a hero he thought I was. It still makes me proud to think of him.
You should be proud - papabran!! We'd be such a lost civilization without people like you!!You, and all who do things like this are HEROES - people object to that word, for some reason I don't understand, but that's what you are!!!
@ papabran-3513727 Not to be nosey but how did you save the toddler?
He was face down in the water and unconcious. CPR and mouth to mouth. He was totally blue when I got him to shore. I thought he was totally dead. Really, the reason I worked on him was to settle his mother and grandmother down. They were hysterical. I was amazed when he came around. The first thing he did was throw-up in my mouth. You just spit and keep going. He reamined in the hospital overnight as they were afraid of brain damage from lack of oxygen. He was perfectly normal when I saw him. He is now a police officer.
Awesome job!! It's nice to hear news like this. Well done, Marcos!!!
God bless this youngster -- he is truly a hero.
Good job kid. You rock.
It is nice to read good news. Bravo young man
I'm with you robiscoole! It is great to hear good news! We hear so much bad, this is very refreshing and gives you hope!
As for Marcos, he is a hero and I hope nothing but good for that young man!
Way to go homie...Your a Hero
Those damned heroes are everywhere. There must be a conspiracy! And only 14?! Wonderful!
This is the kind of news story that I like to read. Good job kid! You give me hope!
Wow this is a good story. Kudos kiddo.
your a very brave young man.
I hope this world rewards you in the manner worthy of you... probably won't... but I will hope anyway.
Doing the right thing is reward enough in my book. That's what makes heros.
WTG Marco.
You're right that someone shouldn't expect a reward for their heroism, but this kid deserves a scholarship, or something similar. This is the kind of person you want a your educational institution, not some idiot thug who's only qualification is that they're good at sports.
Awesome!
What a great guy! To have the presence of mind to do that is nothing short of amazing.
Sounds like the kid that will be a future firefighter. I am glad to read a positive story for once instead of just the bad and tragic.
God bless heroes. By his brave actions he reminds us all about what really matters. What we own matters little. We matter. We must never forget that.
Awesome!! Quick thinking and brave!! Truly a hero!
Where are all the teabaggers now?
A Hispanic saved the life of a little boy.
Are they still wanting to deport them all?
Very happy for You Ma!
Way to go! Ruin a heart-touching story with your political bs. Kudos.
Not them all, just illegal ones. And I fail to see what this has to do with the story.
Has to be a jerk in every post. This isn't about politics.
Bravo!
Kudos to that brave kid! Its refreshing to hear good news for a change. DeliusJM, go somewhere else to post your crap! Nobody here wants to listen to you!
Great job, good thinking, you get my applause.
Now, teach Cody not to play with matches ;). Or maybe he has learned his lesson on his own.
That is awesome...what a brave young man!!
That is Awesome.....what a brave young man!!
Wow; I hope I could be that brave (and modest about it!) should I ever need to be. What a great young man!
Some good news from my homestate for a change. Good job to the rescuer, and as long as you keep your ladder to window skills contained to rescueing people from burning homes you'll do good in life.
Let us hope that this is not one of those guys who set the fire and then attempts to rescue to "look good, heroic and get into the good books with naive immigrants and minorities". In the Midwest and South, where immigrants are so colonized, and have an excessively romantic view of Anglos (Christians and Jews), sometimes they buy into a certain kind of selective "help". After so many fires, and so many horrible stories of arson from within the system...lets hope this guy is a real hero...and not some Anglo kid looking for approval and "love". By the way I am an Anglo. So don't attack me!
Dr MS, Did you even read the entire article? They said it looks like the fire was started by accident by the kid who was rescued!
Apparently your doctorate is not in reading - It clearly stated the fire started in the kid (Cody's) room.
Your entire post is an attack on this kid based off his ethnic background. I don't think you get the right to not be attacked.
Just because you're Anglo, doesn't mean you can post this crap without reading the story. If you had read it, you would know that the fire started in the kids room.
Do everyone a favor and stop posting on forums if you refuse to read the article. If you did read the article, then seek some help from a third grader to help you comprehend it.
By the way, I can't control what I type, so don't attack me!
Dr. Moronic simpleton. Your reading comprehension skills are lacking.
WOW! Just WOW! REALLY??? This kid risks his own neck to help others and you think he started the fire? Why is it when something actually good happens, there is always some jagoff, who tries to spin it and make the kid a pyro looking for fame and recognition? You sir are a cynical senile human being incapable of looking at the good in things.....that is all!
There always has to be one jerk in the crowd. Just can't keep their negative thoughts to themselves. Way to go kiddo.
Thank you, young man! I have kids too. If I were in that situation, I desperately hope someone would do the same thing.