The CBS4 I-Team's Most Popular Investigations
May 6, 2009 6:31 pm US/Eastern
Deputy Awarded For Hyperbaric Chamber Rescue
Medal Of Honor Given To Deputy John Melbourne
Rescued 4-Year Old Boy From Burning Hyperbaric Chamber
Child's Grandmother Died A Day After The Explosion & Fire
FORT LAUDERDALE (CBS4) ―
-
-
The 4-year-old, Francesco Martinizi, was transported via air rescue helicopter to the hospital on Friday.
CBS
A Broward Sheriff's Deputy who risked his own life to rescue a 4-year old boy and his grandmother from a burning hyperbaric chamber last week received the Broward Sheriff's Office highest commendation, The Medal of Honor, for his act of bravery.
Moments after an explosion and fire at the Ocean Hyperbaric Oxygen Neurologic Center in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, Deputy John Melbourne arrived on the scene to help evacuate the building.
When he spotted 4-year old Franchesco Martinizi and his 62-year old grandmother Vincenza Pesce lying inside a burning hyperbaric chamber, he rushed into the chamber and lifted the boy, who was still holding his grandmother's hand, from the flames.
"It was horrific," Melbourne said moments after getting the award. "I'm extremely humbled by the award, but it is an enormous tragedy."
While receiving his award, Melbourne was not able to muster up a smile. He says it's still very difficult for him, knowing the child is in critical condition and his grandmother did not make it.
Pesce died early Saturday at the hospital, a day after the blast caused a flash fire inside the chamber where she had been keeping her grandson company. The boy, who suffers from cerebral palsy, remains in critical condition at Jackson Memorial Hospital with burns over 90-percent of his body. It's not known whether the child's burns are survivable.
His family brought him to South Florida for hyperbaric oxygen treatments because the treatment isn't offered in their home country of Italy.
Hyperbaric chambers are filled with 100 percent oxygen and can be used to treat diving injuries and other illnesses and wounds.
Authorities with BSO's homicide unit and the State Fire Marshal are still investigating the cause of the blast.
It appears that this is the first time such a death from explosion associated with a hyperbaric oxygen chamber has occurred in the United States.
CBS4's Lisa Cilli contributed to this report
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
I-Team: The Dangers Of Sexting
Click to enlarge
Stumble It!
Reporting
