He had no phone to call for help. So instead, he ran straight into the burning building himself — twice.
The Fire
Nicholas Bostic, 25, was driving through a Lafayette, Indiana, neighborhood on a pizza delivery run when he saw a house on fire. Without a phone on him to call 911, he ran into the burning building to help. Moving through thick smoke, he found 18-year-old Seionna Barrett at the top of the stairs, gathering her three younger siblings and a friend who had been staying over.
The First Rescue
Bostic guided Seionna and three children — 13-year-old Shaylee, 1-year-old Kaleia, and Shaylee's 13-year-old friend Livian — safely out of the house through the smoke and flames.
Going Back In
Once outside, a shaken Seionna told Bostic her 6-year-old sister, nicknamed "Baby K," was still inside. Bostic ran back into the house, searching under beds and in closets before hearing faint crying near the stairs. He found the child, broke open a second-floor window, and jumped, shielding her with his body as they fell two stories to the ground.
The Aftermath
Bostic suffered smoke inhalation, burns, and a serious laceration to his arm from the rescue, and collapsed shortly afterward. He was taken to the hospital as the children's parents arrived at the scene. All five children survived; only "Baby K" sustained minor injuries from the fall, treated on-site by first responders. The cause of the fire was under investigation.
Community Response
Local police praised Bostic's actions as extraordinary, and the Lafayette community organized fundraisers to help the Barrett family recover and to support Bostic's medical expenses.
FAQ
How many children did Nicholas Bostic save?
Five — four he guided out together, and a sixth he went back in for separately.
Was Nicholas Bostic injured in the rescue?
Yes. He suffered smoke inhalation, burns, and a serious cut to his arm.
What caused the fire?
The cause was under investigation as of the available reporting.