Young Uncle Saves Niece From Burning House: 'I'd Run Back In There and Do It Again'

Now recovering in the hospital from severe burns, 20-year-old Derrick Byrd said he would run into their burning home all over again if it meant saving his 8-year-old niece Mercedes.

Byrd, who suffered second- and third-degree burns and has gauze covering is face, back, and arms, told KOMO-TV he would save Mercedes again, even if he “got burnt worse or died.”

#BREAKING Aberdeen fire hero Derrick Byrd on rushing back into a burning house to rescue his niece. 6pm on #KOMONews pic.twitter.com/HeHzBN0e7g

— Keith Eldridge (@KeithKOMO4) July 6, 2019

“Even though I got burnt, I really didn’t care, though,” he said. “I’d rather get burnt than her. She’s young. She’s still got a lot of stuff going for her. She’s a good kid.”

When the fire broke out, the Aberdeen, Washington, native immediately jumped into action. Running down the stairs, he was able to grab his two nephews, Rory and Junior. Mercedes, though, was afraid to jump.

Faithwire: Mom Recounts Horror Story of Medical Staff Forcing Her to Watch Baby Daughter Die

Soon after her mother fell off the roof and away from the fire, Mercedes retreated back into the room filled with flames.

“She was screaming my name, so I wasn’t going to let her just sit there,” Byrd recalled. “I wasn’t going to let my niece die. I ran up the stairs and pushed through the fire. I could feel it burning me.”

“I got her and took my shirt off and put it around her face so she wouldn’t breath in any smoke,” he added. “I just carried her out as fast as I could.”

After the fire was put out, Byrd, Mercedes, and Junior were airlifted to a hospital, where the kids’ 20-year-old uncle is now recovering.

Faithwire: Texas Design Conference Drops Christian Speaker in Name of ‘Safe Space for Everyone’

Byrd is being hailed a hero.

“I can’t say ‘a hero,’” he said. “I’d just say I care for my niece and nephews. I wasn’t going to let them die. I’d do it again. I really would. I don’t care. I really would. I’d run back in there and do it again, even if I got burnt worse or died.”

It was not immediately clear to investigators what may have caused the house fire, though they believe it originated inside, on the second floor.