Heroism amidst destruction: family runs toward rubble to help, saves four

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - A family pulled from the rubble of their home is recovering with some stitches, scrapes and bruises. They were rescued by neighbors who lived a block away.

We first spoke with Kirk McDonald as he was heading toward Mary Bryan Elementary School, after leaving the explosion scene Saturday night.

The McDonalds live close to the elementary school where folks were gathered that night. but instead of running to safety, they ran in the opposite direction: toward the explosion, to help neighbors they didn’t even know.

“We heard screaming, ‘Help us save our kids,’” said McDonald. Kirk McDonald, his wife Kyle, and their nephew didn't stop to think that night. They headed straight toward the explosion.

“It was just leveled. there was nothing left of it,” explained Kirk. “The house next to it, the wall had collapsed in on it, and we heard screaming. So we went in.”

They went inside the home, finding a family of four: two daughters, one with a head injury. Then they turned the other way.

“One was the father, he was on the floor, and he was buried by all kinds of debris,” said McDonald. “Then we saw the mother, she was screaming. All you could see was her head.”

By that time, others had come to help, and they all ran to help the mother, who had been sitting cross-legged in a recliner. She was covered with debris.

“At the same time we were pulling two by fours up, my nephew started screaming, ‘The house was on fire.’ I looked up, and you could see the flames above us,” he added. “By the time we got around to the front, the whole side was in flames. It was an inferno at that point.”

They brought the family to first responders. It was only then that they went to seek shelter themselves.

“It was just very crazy and you just moved quick without thinking about what you’re doing. Just gotta go help,” explained Kyle McDonald.

Kirk has since been allowed back into his home , but his family is thinking of those who haven't yet come back.

The family members pulled from the rubble are doing okay. Their father exchanged emails with WISH TV, saying the family is alright, but that the situation is hard to talk about.