Southern California man may lose both legs after helping pregnant woman escape fire
RIVERSIDE, Calif. -- A Riverside, California, man is recovering from emergency surgery and faces the possibility of losing both legs after he says he tried to help a pregnant woman escape a burning apartment complex.
"This hospital saved my life," Brian Jackson said from his hospital bed.
Jackson said he was visiting a friend when several rechargeable batteries caught fire.
"Out of nowhere, one of them blew up," Jackson said.
"Before you knew it, the whole house was in flames," he added.
As smoke filled the complex and residents rushed to evacuate, Jackson said he noticed a pregnant woman trapped inside and preparing to jump from a window.
"When I seen her try to jump out of the window, I said no you can't do that. You're going to kill yourself if you jump out this window. Look how high it is. She's like, 'Well, what else am I gonna do?" Jackson said.
Jackson said he was determined to help her get out safely.
"You can't let her jump out this window before you do, buddy. That's not gonna fly," he recalled thinking.
He said he told the woman he would go first and then help her down. As he lowered himself, he said an explosion occurred.
"And then next thing you know, I got pushed off," Jackson said.
First responders eventually arrived and got the pregnant woman to safety. He and a few others were taken to Riverside Community Hospital.
Jackson's daughters have remained by his side during his recovery. Maia Gutierrez, his stepdaughter, said his concern after waking up was for the woman and her unborn child.
"The first thing that he was concerned about was not himself. He wanted to know if the mother and baby were OK," Gutierrez said.
Jackson rejected the idea that he is a hero. He said he was simply trying to do the right thing.
His stepdaughters sees it differently.
"He's a hero," Maia said.
His stepdaughter, Tehani Gutierrez, said he makes an impact on everyone he meets.
Jackson faces a long recovery that includes additional medical care and physical therapy.
His daughters have created a GoFundMe campaign to help cover those expenses and say all money raised will go toward his recovery.
