Gregory A. Oakley rescued Sean M. Gress, Jr., from burning, Edmonston, Maryland, April 6, 1995. Sean, 2, was inside the house where he and his family lived after fire broke out in the basement. Other family members fled the house, which filled with dense smoke that precluded visibility. Oakley, 47, crane operator, was visiting in the neighborhood when he saw smoke; responding to the scene, he learned that Sean was unaccounted for. Oakley then heard crying through the opened front door of the burning house. He entered the house and, guided by the cries, crawled through blistering heat across the living room, then entered the adjoining room. He found Sean on the floor, then picked him up and retraced his course to safety. Sean was severely burned and required extensive hospitalization. Oakley showed signs of smoke inhalation, and he sustained minor burns, from which he recovered.
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