EAST AURORA, N.Y. — A man credited with saving a child in South Wales from a house fire, is being honored.
Assemblyman David DiPietro presented Charlie Sergel with a proclamation for his heroic actions.
Sergel, 51, was on his way home last month when he noticed smoke coming from a shop on Olean Road. He said he knew something was wrong, so he turned around and went to check it out.
When he went back, he was met by an 11-year-old boy who was able to escape the fire. The young boy told Sergel his 5-year-old sister was still inside.
Sergel went into the home and rescued the little girl, who was hiding in a bathroom.
Lt. Patrick Welch with East Aurora Police Department said, “A Good Samaritan, if you will, at this point in the preliminary investigation stopped his car. We believe he ran up the driveway and helped remove one of the children from this fire.”
Sergel suffered smoke inhalation but escaped without serious injuries. He was treated and released from the hospital.
Both children were taken to Oishei Children's Hospital. The 5-year-old girl was listed in critical, but stable condition, and the 11-year-old boy is in stable condition.
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