Robert E. McKay helped to rescue David G. Kennedy from burning, Chelsea, Massachusetts, June 11, 2000. Kennedy, 62, lay unconscious on the living room floor of his apartment after fire broke out in that room and filled the apartment with dense smoke. McKay, 64, retired housepainter and roofer, and another man, both residents of the building, responded to the door of Kennedy’s apartment while evacuating the building. They opened the door to dense smoke, then entered the unit and crawled through a hallway into the living room, where they found Kennedy just a few feet from the flames. They grasped Kennedy under his arms, but when McKay rose to his knees, he took in smoke and had to leave the apartment. Maintaining his hold, the other man dragged Kennedy toward the apartment door. After the other man had gone about 10 feet, or halfway, McKay rejoined him, and together they dragged Kennedy the rest of the way out of the apartment. Kennedy was hospitalized for six days for treatment of smoke inhalation, minor burns on his legs, and other injury. He recovered. McKay suffered pain in his chest and lungs and other effects for about three days but did not immediately seek treatment. He recovered.
74561 – 8488
74561-8488