Daniel A. Frister helped to rescue Juanita M. Patterson from burning, San Diego, California, June 25, 1998. Ms. Patterson, 84, was in a bedroom of her one-story home when fire broke out in that room, setting Ms. Patterson’s attire and a chair aflame. She called for help, attracting the attention of her son-in-law, who also was in the house, and a neighbor, Frister, 62, regional service manager, who was in his yard. Although disabled by a heart condition, Frister forced open the front door of the burning house and crawled through a hall to Ms. Patterson’s bedroom, joining her son-in-law, who also had responded to the bedroom. Frister and the son-in-law grasped Ms. Patterson, who was lying on the bedroom floor, and dragged her through the hall toward the front door. After leaving the house to alert help, Frister returned to Ms. Patterson and, with the son-in-law, took her the remaining distance outside to safety. Ms. Patterson sustained serious burns and died the next day. Frister suffered a heart attack immediately after the rescue, requiring two days’ hospital treatment. He sustained also smoke inhalation and a burn to one hand, from which he recovered.
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