Lackland Airman saves man from burning building

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Lynsie Nichols
  • 502nd Air Base Wing Public Affairs
JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO- LACKLAND, Texas (AFNS) --  A security forces Airman recently proved that a service member is never off duty.

Senior Airman Christopher Taylor, assigned to 802nd Security Forces Squadron at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, was getting ready for work on the morning of Nov. 3, when someone started banging on his door and ringing the doorbell repeatedly.

"I went to see what the commotion was about and saw that it was my neighbor from across the street," Taylor said.

The neighbor frantically informed him that their house was on fire and that their disabled uncle was trapped inside.

"When I heard the news, I didn't hesitate," Taylor said. "I had to get in there and save this man."

The moment the Airman entered the house, he was overcome by thick smoke, so he dropped to his knees and started crawling in search of his neighbor's uncle.

"When I found him, he was in the center of the house, approximately 20 feet from the door," he said.

As the fire continued to burn, the Taylor said he only had one thought on his mind, "We were going to get out of there; no one was dying on my watch."

By the time Taylor got the man out of the house and dragged him to safety, the fire department had already been notified and was on their way.

Taylor's husband, James, said he couldn't be more proud of him.

"Christopher's actions speak much louder than my words -- he has always been so selfless," James said. "He didn't stop to think about himself, he just went in to save this man's life."

The man was admitted to the San Antonio Military Medical Complex, where he remains for treatment due to minor burns on the left side of his body and severe smoke inhalation.