CA-35
Senior Member
Mayor Cory A. Booker of Newark rescued a woman trapped in a burning house Thursday night and carried her to safety. Booker was treated for smoke inhalation at a local hospital and released. He also suffered second-degree burns on his hand.
During a press conference Friday morning, Booker rejected suggestions that he is a hero for his role in the rescue. "I think that's way over the top. I'm a neighbor who did what most neighbors would do, jump into action to help a friend," he said. In fact, Booker said he thought he and his fellow rescuers might die in the effort. "I felt fear. I really didn't think we were going to get out of there," he said. Booker says he arrived at his Newark home after taping a television interview and found a neighbor's house ablaze. Before firefighters arrived on the scene, the mayor and two members of his security detail entered the house and helped the residents get out safely. Booker then heard a woman screaming for help on the second floor and went back inside. "I just grabbed her and whipped her out of the bed," Booker told The Star-Ledger. Booker posted a Twitter message shortly after the incident: "Thanks 2 all who are concerned. Just suffering smoke inhalation. We got the woman out of the house. We are both off to hospital. I will b ok."
By Joel Roberts (The Lookout) and Yahoo News reporter Eric Pfeiffer contributed to this report.
Now that's a GOOD man!
During a press conference Friday morning, Booker rejected suggestions that he is a hero for his role in the rescue. "I think that's way over the top. I'm a neighbor who did what most neighbors would do, jump into action to help a friend," he said. In fact, Booker said he thought he and his fellow rescuers might die in the effort. "I felt fear. I really didn't think we were going to get out of there," he said. Booker says he arrived at his Newark home after taping a television interview and found a neighbor's house ablaze. Before firefighters arrived on the scene, the mayor and two members of his security detail entered the house and helped the residents get out safely. Booker then heard a woman screaming for help on the second floor and went back inside. "I just grabbed her and whipped her out of the bed," Booker told The Star-Ledger. Booker posted a Twitter message shortly after the incident: "Thanks 2 all who are concerned. Just suffering smoke inhalation. We got the woman out of the house. We are both off to hospital. I will b ok."
By Joel Roberts (The Lookout) and Yahoo News reporter Eric Pfeiffer contributed to this report.
Now that's a GOOD man!
