Edward John Hennessey saved Raymond E. Stipp from burning, Charlotte, North Carolina, October 4, 2000. Stipp, 74, lay unconscious on the floor of his one-story house after fire broke out in a bedroom and filled the house with smoke. Walking nearby, Hennessey, 24, banking associate, saw flames at the roof of the house and ran to the scene, where he learned that Stipp was still inside. Going through the attached garage, Hennessey entered the house a few steps through a door opening to the kitchen, but he was quickly forced out by the smoke. Removing his shirt to cover his mouth with it, he re-entered the kitchen and crawled across that room in search of Stipp, calling out to him. When he heard a moan, Hennessey crawled toward the sound and encountered Stipp farther inside. Still on his hands and knees, he pulled Stipp by the legs about halfway to the kitchen door before difficulty with breathing forced him out again. Hennessey regained his breath in the garage, then re-entered the kitchen again. He crawled to Stipp, pulled him the remaining distance out of the kitchen and into the garage, then took him outside. Stipp and Hennessey were both taken to the hospital for treatment of smoke inhalation, and they recovered.
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