Florida Firefighter Talks About Heroic Rescue

July 11, 2007
The firefighter who ran into one of the burning homes to save a 10-year-old talked about his incredible ordeal.

WFTV.com Video

SANFORD, Fla. --

A Lake Mary firefighter, Wednesday, described in detail what it was like inside of a burning house. He pulled a 10-year-old boy to safety after a plane hit his home.

For the first time, the firefighter who ran into one of the burning homes to save a 10-year-old talked about his incredible ordeal.

Meanwhile, investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board were back at the scene, Wednesday afternoon. At a news conference, Wednesday morning, Sanford police said there was no change in the conditions of those injured.

Off-duty firefighter Ryan Cooper said, when he raced into a burning house, he did what any firefighter would do. Cooper was wheeled into a conference room at Central Florida Regional Hospital, Wednesday morning, flanked by staff, a fellow firefighter, Lake Mary's mayor and his wife Karen.

The first thing the Lake Mary firefighter did was express his condolences to the families of the victims is Tuesday's fiery crash at the Preserve at Lake Monroe. Cooper didn't know Milly Deshat well, but when she told Ryan that her husband and children were still inside their burning home he didn't hesitate.

The firefighter pulled out 10-year-old Daniel and his dad, who'd gone back inside for the couple's 4-year-old daughter, Gabby. The little girl didn't survive.

"For a very long time I'll be thinking about what if," Cooper said, Wednesday, "If I had an air pack on or something that could have aided my rescue. But I was there with what I had and I did what I could."

Cooper also did what he could for Janice Joseph and her 6-month-old. Cooper was able to break into the house and search a bedroom, but a second search wasn't an option. Both died in the fire.

Cooper himself breathed in a lot of smoke. Doctors at the hospital are doing toxicology tests and holding him for observation.

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