John A. Seger helped to save Deborah G. Savage from burning, Nahant, Massachusetts, November 13, 2002. At night, Ms. Savage, 45, lay unconscious in the hallway of her one-story house after fire erupted in the basement and spread to the main floor. A neighbor, Seger, 41, architect, responded to the scene and joined others, including a police officer, in their attempts to locate her. Seger opened a bedroom window, then, hearing Ms. Savage moan, climbed through it. Although visibility was nil in the smoke-filled house, he crawled through the bedroom and into the hall, where he located Ms. Savage. Repulsed by smoke, however, he returned to the window for air. The officer gave him a flashlight, and Seger retraced his path to Ms. Savage. He dragged her to the bedroom window but struggled when he attempted to pass her through it. Nearly overcome by smoke, Seger climbed through the window. The officer entered the house through the window and passed Ms. Savage outside to others. She was then taken to the hospital for treatment.
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