Rupert Fong helped to save Robert A. Gibson from burning, Kelowna, British Columbia, April 13, 1970. Gibson, 54, vocational school vice-principal, was filling the fuel tank of a station wagon at a gasoline pump when fire broke out and ignited his clothing, which had been splashed with fuel. He shut off the flow of gasoline from the pump but then fell amid flames on the ground where the fuel had spread over a 10-foot area. Fong, 24, automobile body repairman, ran to Gibson, who had crawled to the edge of the burning area and then had lost consciousness. Within a foot of flames burning around the automobile’s fuel tank and the gasoline pump, Fong used his jacket to put out most of the flames on Gibson’s clothing. Another man arrived alongside Fong; and together they tried unsuccessfully to lift Gibson. They then grasped him by the shoulders and dragged him away from the flames, which were put out by a man with fire extinguisher. Gibson was hospitalized for extensive burns. He recovered.
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