Childhood friends save Salem, Illinois man's life from house fire

By Kasey Joyce

KSDK -- A southern Illinois man has his childhood friends to thank for saving his life. Firefighters pulled the 20-year-old man out of a burning house in Salem, Illinois on Monday. Some of his high school classmates were among the rescuers.

When the Salem Fire Department arrived at a burning house on Indiana Street, they knew someone was trapped inside. What they did not know was that the victim had a special connection to some of the department.

Breanna Sanders was not home when the fire started. Her roommate, Anthony Webster, was at the house.

"He had updated his Facebook at 12:15, saying he was getting ready to clean, take a shower, do some things. The next thing they know, the house is on fire," Sanders said.

Local police and firefighters were on scene within minutes and immediately began searching the house.

Webster was trapped in a bathroom inside the house. Firefighters had to cut through a wall in order to free him.

"It's crazy. The bathroom was the only thing that wasn't engulfed in flames," said Adrienne Zimmerman, a high school friend of Webster's. "It's a miracle that he was able to get out."

It wasn't until they were all safely outside that four of the firefighters realized the victim they had just saved was one of their high school classmates.

"It has to be scary for them, too. It's scary just doing what they do, but knowing it's someone you know, I'm sure it makes it harder," Sanders said.

Firefighters Patrick Hawkins, Richard Follett, Josh Parker and Justin Lewis would not go on camera, but they credit their training and the other firefighters for making the save.

Webster's friends credit them for saving his life.

It's heroic for anybody, but to be able to save your best friend would be a pretty amazing feeling.

Webster was airlifted to Barnes Jewish Hospital, where he remains in critical condition.