A New Jersey city mayor is playing down his role rescuing a neighbour from a blaze as he returned home on Thursday night.
Newark mayor Cory Booker admitted he thought he might die as he ran through the smoke filled house in search of the woman, Zina Hodge. But he insisted that he had just done what any neighbour would do.
Two members of his security detail already at the property had got three people out of the house. But when Mr Booker arrived, it became clear that someone was still in the building. Although one of his security detail attempted to stop him, Mr Booker then rushed into the burning and smoke filled building, followed by his guards, and rescued the neighbour from a bedroom.
"Honestly it was terrifying and to look back and see nothing but flames and to look in front of you and see nothing but blackness," Booker told USA Today. The mayor said he now has an even more profound respect for firefighters.
Mr Booker suffered burns to his hand and the effects of smoke inhalation, while the woman he rescued had burns to her neck and back. After the rescue he tweeted:
“Thanks everyone, my injuries were relatively minor. Thanks to Det. Alex Rodriguez who helped get all of the people out of the house.”
Newark Fire Chief John Centanni said the mayor executed a professional rescue and possibly saved the life of one resident.
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