A father of five is being hailed a hero after he died to rescue his family from a house fire.
Authorities say seven people were trapped in a Clayton County home. A mother, father and their five children. The family had to break windows to escape. John Gamble, the father, pushed them out of the window to safety.
Neighbors Jacob Stewart and John Tumlin witnessed the father’s heroic act.
“I opened my window, I saw that window right there in flames (pointing to the shattered glass window). By the time me and Stick got out here, the whole side of the house was on fire and fire coming out of the front door,” Steward told 11 Alive. “We see that woman out here screaming. I see a kid over talking about, help. We go over there, there’s like two of them out and then he’s shoving them out the window.”
Although the fire was spreading rapidly, Gamble somehow managed to save his family.
Tumlin said he noticed the father was still inside as the fire was still going. “The little boy who was in the kitchen, he had a little cut, and that’s the one that said, ‘Hey, hey John, my daddy’s over there. You got to save him or he’s going to die!,'” Tumlin said.
Deputy Fire Chief Matt Jackson told WXIA that the fire started in the living room and it was not equipped with a working fire alarm. He added that it took around 20 firefighters to put out the blaze.
“A heroic man and very lucky children,” Jackson said.
The wife Tyesha Gamble, was treated for smoke inhalation and the children suffered from cuts and bruises according to the AJC. The family was taken to Grady Hospital.
“He died saving his children. He’s the real hero,” Stewart said.
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