Fast-Acting Strangers Scale Apartment Building To Rescue Elderly Man From Raging Fire

Dec 05, 2022 by apost team

Help can come from the most surprising of places when you least expect it. Many who witness or are faced with an emergency dilemma can end up frozen in panic, unsure of what to do to help. For others, it’s a case of jumping into action before any thought of personal safety can stop them. Such was the case for two men in the Seine-et-Marne department of the Île-de-France region in north-central France in April 2020.

Ouloubaev Aslan and Dombaev Dzhambulat, both hailing from Chechnya in Eastern Europe, moved to France a number of years prior in the hopes of better jobs and a better life. The pair became friends after living in the same apartment block in Montereau-Fault-Yonne. They never imagined that they would become unsuspecting heroes when they rescued an elderly man from his burning apartment as he stood terrified on the balcony.

On April 15, Dzhambulat was going about his day when he witnessed a terrible sight.

“I was doing gymnastics in Square Beaumarchais when I saw smoke coming from a neighboring building,” said Dzhambulat, according to 20 minutes.

On the second floor of the burning apartment block, he saw an elderly man who was bent over his balcony railing. He appeared dazed and unable to escape the blaze as smoke continued to billow out from inside the apartment unit behind him. The sight also caught Aslan’s eye, and as the people began to crowd around the building, expressing yells of terror, the pair knew they had no choice but to do more.

Aslan and Dzhambulat rushed to the rescue. Using trash cans as a makeshift ladder, they hoisted themselves up to the balcony next door to the old man. Despite urging the man to come closer, they were unable to get him to move, prompting one of them to risk their own safety by jumping over to the elderly man’s balcony. With the help of another individual, the elderly man was carried over to the shelter of the other balcony.

Aslan and Dzhambulat said they didn't think twice about helping. According to 20 Minutes, Aslan explained his reaction to the terrifying situation: 

"I saw an old person ... and I did not hesitate to climb Everyone asked me the question, but I did not have time to be afraid, I had to go," Dzhambulat said.

Video taken from among the watching crowd showed just how brave the men were and how much danger they risked trying to save the elderly man’s life. Screams from the crowd only served to intensify the situation, which escalated quickly as smoke streamed out of the apartment. However, the men moved faster and were able to save the day from ending in tragedy.

Their incredible selflessness and courage have not gone unnoticed. The mayor of the town awarded them all medals for bravery. Thanks to them, the elderly man survived the fire.

Firefighters from SDIS 77 told 20 Minutes: "There is a big risk and these are acts of bravery. This was instrumental in the first few minutes to save the trapped people." It is wonderful to know that there are good people, ready and willing to do good deeds all around us.

apost.com

How quickly did those men swing into action? Have you ever faced such a harrowing emergency situation? Let us know, and don’t forget to pass this along to family and friends.