Ralph R. Bemis rescued Lester M. Desrosiers from burning, Medway, Massachusetts, December 5, 1986. Desrosiers, 26, lay semi-conscious in his burning pickup truck after a highway accident at night. Bemis, 29, contractor, who lived nearby, heard the accident; he ran to the driver’s door of the truck, but flames and intense heat prevented him from opening it. He then ran to the passenger door, which he opened. Despite intense heat and flames inside the cab, Bemis grasped Desrosiers, whose boots and trousers were aflame, and pulled him from the truck. Bemis dragged Desrosiers to safety, then extinguished the flames on him with his hands. Desrosiers was hospitalized for severe burns and other injuries, and he recovered.
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