Robert George Lawton rescued Steven P. Schleicher from burning, North Smithfield, Rhode Island, December 8, 1983. Schleicher, 27, sat dazed and burning in the passenger seat of his car following a highway accident at night. Lawton, 25, dance instructor, ran to the car, and when he could not open either of its doors, he broke the driver’s window with his fist. Despite flames inside the car, Lawton entered it to his waist, seized Schleicher, and pulled him through the window moments before the car was completely engulfed in flames. Schleicher was hospitalized for extensive burns. Lawton was treated for lesser burns, from which he recovered.
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