Bodycam Footage Shows Florida Deputy Rescuing 3-Year-Old Hiding Under Blanket From House Fire

A Florida deputy is being hailed as a hero after he rushed into a burning house to rescue a 3-year-old who was hiding under a blanket, and the whole exchange was caught on the deputy’s bodycam.

On Sunday, K-9 Deputy First Class Marcus Dawson of the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office responded to reports of a fire in Palm Coast Florida. He approached a neighbor who said that a family of three lived in the residence and that he saw flames billowing from the kitchen. He added that he had not seen the family all day. Dawson ran towards the residence and proceeded to try and make entry as he called out his credentials. Despite no one answering his calls, he saw a bathroom light was on and finally gained access to the home via a patio screen door in the back of the house.

When Dawson finally entered the house, he saw a three-year-old boy hiding from the smoke under a blanket in the master bedroom, watching a cartoon on his phone. “Hi buddy,” Dawson can be heard saying to the child. “Where’s your mommy? Come with me, come with me.” The kid agrees and Dawson picks him up and carries him to first responders who were waiting on the curb. 

“Without DFC Dawson immediately running toward danger, even without a safety respirator, this could have been a much different outcome,” Sheriff Rick Staly said of Dawson’s rescue in a press statement. Every member of the house was reported safe, and the cause of the blaze is believed to have been accidental. “Without DFC Dawson immediately running toward danger, even without a safety respirator, this could have been a much different outcome,” Sheriff Staly said. “This child was hiding in fear of the fire and smoke watching a cartoon on his phone when, thankfully, DFC Dawson’s training in emergency response allowed him to find this child and safely rescue him.” 

Check out footage of the rescue above.