“I just wanted to get him out,” said Tim Morris, a 37-year-old Gisborne construction worker who came forward to police on Sunday morning after a public appeal to find the man who dragged an 89-year-old resident through a broken window of a burning house on Aberdeen Road.
Tim Morris Steps Forward at Gisborne Police Station
The rescue occurred around 1am on Saturday when Morris and a friend were driving along Aberdeen Rd and spotted the blaze. Battling thick smoke, the pair hauled the elderly occupant out through a broken window to safety. Morris then checked whether anyone else was inside the property and ran to neighbours for help before slipping away into the night once emergency services arrived.
On Sunday morning, Morris walked into the Gisborne police station after his friend showed him a public appeal issued by authorities. Detective Senior Sergeant John Love noted that Morris did not want to make a fuss when he arrived, adding that police went looking for him simply to shake his hand and say thank you rather than because he was in trouble.
Did You Know? Tim Morris was born and raised in Gisborne, and noted that the reality of the early-morning rescue only fully sank in when his friend showed him the police appeal on Sunday morning.
Hospital Recovery and Extent of Damage
Police confirmed that the 89-year-old house occupant is recovering well in hospital following the incident. According to Senior station officer Tim Lister, who spoke to the Gisborne Herald, the interior of the house was significantly damaged during the fire. Lister stated that the elderly man was taken to hospital by ambulance suffering from moderate smoke inhalation and that the passerby who broke the window and hauled him out probably saved his life.
Local authorities highlighted the gravity of the event, with Detective Senior Sergeant John Love stating that the resident was able to escape a life-threatening situation thanks to the rescuer’s quick actions. Love remarked that while Morris might not consider himself a hero, his intervention made a real difference during an incredibly frightening day.
Construction worker pulls elderly man from burning house
Who rescued the 89-year-old man from the burning house?
Tim Morris, a 37-year-old construction worker from Gisborne, pulled the man to safety alongside a friend after spotting the fire while driving along Aberdeen Rd.
When did the rescue take place?
The rescue occurred around 1am on Saturday, and Morris subsequently came forward to the Gisborne police station on Sunday morning after seeing a public appeal.
What condition is the elderly resident in following the fire?
Police confirmed that the 89-year-old man is recovering well in hospital after being transported by ambulance for moderate smoke inhalation.
What motivates ordinary citizens to risk their safety for strangers during late-night emergencies?