Frank De Dobbelaer rescued Diedrich Tiechroeb from burning, Langton, Ontario, June 14, 1994. Diedrich, 3, was in the basement of his family’s home after fire broke out there. De Dobbelaer, 50, real estate broker, was driving by the house when he was alerted to the fire by Diedrich’s mother, who flagged him down. De Dobbelaer went to the house’s rear door, which opened onto the stairs leading to the basement, and entered twice in attempts to gain access to the basement. Both times he was driven back by smoke, which precluded visibility. De Dobbelaer then put a coat around his shoulders and over his mouth and descended the stairs again. He called out to Diedrich, who ran to him. De Dobbelaer secured a hold on Diedrich and removed him from the basement then exited the house with him through the back door. Diedrich was hospitalized for treatment of serious burns. De Dobbelaer required hospital treatment for smoke inhalation; he recovered.
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