Boy foils suicide attempt, pulls neighbor from burning home

a 16-year-old Wichita boy is being hailed a hero after rescuing his neighbor from her burning home Monday night.

Firefighters say the boy noticed smoke coming from the home in the 5700 block of N. Meridian around 8:15. He knocked on the front and back doors, but didn't get an answer. He realized the front door was unlocked and entered when he heard moaning from inside.

"He got low under the smoke and located the 53-year-old female occupant in a hallway and was able to pull her out," said Capt. Stuart Bevis with the Wichita Fire Department.

Fire crews arrived shortly after the boy pulled the woman out. She was taken to Via Christi Hospital on St. Francis in critical condition suffering from burns and smoke inhalation.

Capt. Bevis said evidence at the home as well as statements given by the woman indicate the woman was trying to take her own life when she set her home on fire.

The fire department will attempt to award the boy for his bravery, saying if it weren't for his actions, the woman likely would not have been so fortunate.

"He did an outstanding job, because he opened the door and when he heard someone calling for help and moaning, he took action and got low under the smoke and did what he could," Capt. Bevis said.

Fire investigators estimate the fire did $50,000 to the structure and $15,000 to its contents.