Jay Ross Muxworthy

Jay Ross Muxworthy attempted to rescue James C. Andrews III from burning, Wilmington, North Carolina, April 24, 2016. James, 13 months, and his older sister remained in the middle row of a sport utility vehicle that was aflame in the engine area after a crash in which the vehicle left the road and struck a tree near a park entrance. During the crash, the engine’s transmission breached the passenger compartment. Dark smoke issued from the vehicle. The driver, their mother, was motionless in her seat. Among those who went to the scene was Muxworthy, 48, restaurant operator, who approached the burning vehicle. After a man saved James’s sister, and the mother was removed through the open driver’s window, multiple people helped to pry open the rear, driver’s-side door as flames spread toward James’s safety seat. Muxworthy extended his upper body inside the vehicle and, despite blistering heat and advancing flames, made efforts to free James from his car seat. Overcome by conditions, Muxworthy was forced to withdraw from the vehicle, which was rapidly engulfed by fire. James did not survive. Muxworthy was hospitalized for nine days for treatment of burns to his head, arms, and right hand. He underwent additional treatment for his burns for several months following the accident.