A hero police officer has been captured on video running into a burning mobile home to save an eight-year-old boy and his family.
The video, which was posted to Instagram, shows the Socorro, Texas, Police officer, later identified as Officer Joshua Gonzalez, on Monday running into the building engulfed by flames and thick smoke.
Officer Gonzalez told KVIA, when he learned that people were still inside the burning residence, he did not hesitate to come to their aid.
“I immediately without a doubt, it was well within my heart and soul to run in and get these people out,” Gonzalez said.
“When I arrived to the door it was really hot, and once I made entry I did find that there was two adults inside and a child. The child was 8 years of age and the elderly person was 75. At that point, I did advise him, ‘Let’s go out’. The house was already full of smoke, I could barely breathe and I even advised them, ‘cover your mouths’, to try to get out as soon as possible safely.
“From that point, I grabbed the child and I held him tight in my arms and I ran out with him and got him to the street where there was a couple of neighbors and sat him down and advised them to take care of him,” he added.
According to Breitbart, an off-duty firefighter managed to rescue the other two adults who were inside the home. The elderly adult, a 75-year-old, was treated at the scene for smoke inhalation.
The Socorro Police Department acknowledged Officer Gonzalez’s bravery in a statement, saying:
“The Socorro Police Department would also like to recognize one of their own, Officer Joshua Gonzalez, who undertook a selfless act, when he entered one of the houses to remove a family that was still located inside.”
When the young boy told the officer that he was sad his football shoes were lost in the blaze, Officer Gonzales said he would buy him new ones.
