Hamilton teen saves a life by pulling man out from burning tent

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A Hamilton teenager didn’t think twice about saving a life over the weekend, putting himself in danger by pulling a man out from a burning tent.

Christine Fox said her son Zeke, who was driving home Sunday night, jumped into action after noticing a tent on fire, near Bayfront Park in the city’s West Harbour area.

Fox, who shared her son’s courageous act to social media, said Zeke ran to the tent and heard a man yelling for help. She added the fire was visible from her backyard.

“Zeke ran into the tent that was engulfed in flames, found the man and pulled the man who was also on fire out of the tent,” Fox wrote on Facebook early Monday morning. “Then he rolled him into the snow and called 911.”

Fox said her boy called his father “screaming” for help before the fire department and paramedics arrived, adding she could hear the yelling “but no one was there to help.”

She said Zeke saved the man’s life after he was pulled from the blaze. The victim was taken to Hamilton General Hospital in critical but stable condition, she added.

The boy was taken to McMaster Children’s Hospital for smoke inhalation and was monitored for carbon monoxide poisoning before he was discharged. He only suffered minor scrapes and bruises.

“Pat and I are extremely proud but not at all surprised,” Fox wrote. “Zeke has been trying to help others since he was able to walk.”

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In an update Monday evening, Fox said her son is doing fine and resting at home.

“He put his own life at risk to save the life of a stranger,” she wrote.

Fox recalled that when she asked her son why he went inside the burning tent, he replied: “No one else would, and I couldn’t let him die.”

Fox said she was thankful for the response from her friends and neighbours after sharing the story of her son’s heroics.

“The overwhelming amount of support from our community has been a blessing,” she wrote. “We’re thankful for everyone who has reached out. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.”