Heroic firefighter in Turkiye gives gas mask to save Afghan girl

By Ilhami Erkilic

ERZURUM, Turkiye (AA) - A firefighter in eastern Turkiye continued to receive treatment on Wednesday after he gave his gas mask to an unconscious Afghan girl at a house fire he was responding to earlier this week.

After spending two nights under intensive care, doctors at Ataturk University Research Hospital in Erzurum province transferred Yucel Kucuk to an inpatient room on Wednesday.

Kucuk had suffered a heart attack and had been exposed to smoke at a local home where a fire had broken out on Monday, trapping an Afghan family inside.

Speaking to Anadolu Agency, Kucuk said they arrived at the scene after receiving a call on the blaze.

"We entered (the house). The people inside had been affected by the smoke. They were unconscious. In a reflex at that moment, I took off my gas mask and conscientiously gave it to the unconscious girl, who was in bad shape. I was exposed to smoke because I gave my gas mask indoors and I was highly affected by the smoke," he recounted.

Kucuk said he had no underlying condition but did not feel well after the fire and that his health had deteriorated. When he was taken to the hospital, his heart vessels were found to be clogged and a stent was put in, he added.

“When I saw the Afghan children unconscious at the house, my own children came to my mind. Our duty is to save them, our reason for going there is clear. We had to save those inside that were hurt. I'm happy I saved the children. I never regretted giving my gas mask. If it happens again, I'd take off my mask again," said Kucuk.