A United Parcel Service driver has been hailed a hero after charging into a burning home to rescue a 101-year-old woman in a dramatic incident in Santa Ana, California.
A Delivery Turned Rescue Mission
On 15 January, Willy Esquivel was completing a routine delivery when neighbours alerted him to thick smoke pouring from a nearby condominium. The home belonged to Ann Edwards, a centenarian who lives alone. Neighbours had been pounding on her door after the fire alarm sounded, but the disoriented woman was reluctant and confused, unable to leave by herself.
Esquivel, without hesitation, entered the smoke-filled property. "I just did what I thought was right," he later told Los Angeles news outlet KTLA. "At the end of the day, she's someone's mother, someone's grandmother, great-grandmother." The Orange County Fire Authority confirmed he picked up Edwards and carried her to safety, placing her on a neighbour's couch to await emergency services.
Community Springs into Action
While Esquivel rescued Edwards, other neighbours launched a concerted effort to combat the blaze. One neighbour, a roofer, used his ladder to climb onto the home and spray water from a garden hose into the kitchen vent. Others attempted to douse the kitchen fire with extinguishers.
The fire authority released footage showing the disorienting thickness of the smoke inside the condo. Firefighters soon arrived, fully extinguished the fire, and took Edwards to hospital for a medical evaluation.
A Remarkable Outcome and Humble Hero
Edwards' son, Rick, confirmed his mother remained in hospital the following day but was expected to make a full recovery. "Tell you what, Willy – thank you," he said to KTLA. "God bless you, man, for sticking with her and getting her out. Thank you."
The Orange County Fire Authority praised the event as "a remarkable outcome made possible by quick action, teamwork and people looking out for one another in a moment of need".
Despite being called a hero by colleagues and the community, Esquivel remained characteristically modest. "I'm just a UPS driver who was in the right place at the right time," he insisted. "I'm just glad I was able to lend a hand when [it] was needed. I hope she … has a quick recovery." UPS had not issued a formal comment on the incident at the time of reporting.
