Tears flow in Makurdi as brave man who rescued baby trapped in a burning house dies

Michael Anthony, a 27–year old man who braved the odds to save the life of a toddler trapped in a burning house in Makurdi, could not survive the first degree burns he sustained. But eulogies have continued to pour in for him even in death, which many have likened to the savior Jesus Christ.

Although, he has answered the divine call, but the life and times of Michael Anthony, aged 27, who paid the supreme prize, by delving into a burning house to save a toddler trapped in the burning house shall linger long and remain a reference point for many.


Angel Michael as he was fondly called at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital ( BSUTH) and its vicinity, where he spent weeks on admission for severe burns before his eventual death, went through the pains to save the life of the child of a neighbor.

For being a good neighbour’s keeper, Michael succumbed to the cold hands of death on Sunday night barely a month after his battle to survive the burns he sustained failed, despite efforts by medical experts to cure him.

Precisely, he had braved the odds, August 13, at about 8:30pm, by diving into a raging fire to free a 16-month-old baby trapped in the inferno.

In the process, the deceased though successfully rescued the child, but suffered first and third degree burns, which landed him into the Intensive Care Unit of the Benue State University Teaching Hospital, Makurdi where he was receiving treatment until his death 11:45pm last Sunday.

Sadly, on the same night he died and probably about the time he was gasping for breath, the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) had in a follow-up on news- line featured him doing some exercise to show his speedy recovery.

It was gathered that President Goodluck Jonathan had given N2million to support Michael’s treatment and also offered to subsequently take him abroad for better medication.

NigerianEYE learnt the idea was later shelved when his doctors assured that he was fast responding to treatment, spokesman of his family and immediate elder brother, Charles Anthony said.
He announced the death of his brother to journalists in tears, “we lost him a few hours after he complained of severe chest pain.”

According to him, the late Michael had begun to respond to treatment when he relapsed that night and all attempts by four doctors to stabilize his condition did not yield positive results.

“He died last night (Sunday). I can’t even fathom this. My brother had high hopes of going back to school and becoming an important person in the society,” Charles sobbed.

While on the sick bed, Michael had told his family members that soon after his discharge from the hospital, he would strive to gain admission into a university to pursue his dream of becoming an electrical engineer.

Head, Public Relations of the BSUTH, Cephas Hough also confirmed that Angel Michael died when everyone had hope for his survival.

His remains has been deposited in the morgue, but his parents are still in the state of shock as sympathizers continued to throng their home.

Before his death, a joyous Michael told NE on his sick bed that his actions were premised on the word of God preached by his pastor.

He said “I had just returned from work on the fateful day at about 9pm when we (my parents and siblings) started hearing the continued cry of a baby. Initially, we had thought that our neighbour was beating her child, but when the crying became unbearable for us, we all ran out only to discover that our neighbour’s flat was on fire.

“By this time, the entire sitting room had already been overcome by the flames. There was absolutely nothing anyone could do if the baby must be rescued, except to brave the odds.

“I just couldn’t stand there to do nothing and wait till the baby dies. So, I tried to assist the little boy as I paved my way into the bedroom where he was and threw him out from the window,” he added.
Michael, an apprentice electrician though badly burnt in a bid to save the child, said “I’m grateful, however, that the attempt was successful. I don’t in any way regret my action. No matter what it turns out to be [life or death], my joy is to make heaven at last.”


Expectedly, the fortunate baby’s mother, Mrs. Shiminenge Terfa who has never been herself since the incident, said she has to temporarily relocate to her parent’s home to avoid doing anything stupid to herself.


“I have temporarily relocated to my parents home on Vandeikya Street in order not to do something tragic to myself. I still can’t stand the fact that Michael gave his life for my son to live,” she said.
Mrs. Terfa recalled that she had gone to a pharmacy shop, about 10 minutes walk from her residence within the area at about 8 pm leaving her four children indoors when the fire occurred.

She explained that while the other three children were promptly saved by neighbours, the little baby boy, Saanmoyol Terfa was forgotten in the room which at the time was already engulfed with fire.

But the shrieking cry of the baby alerted the neighbours who were helpless about the situation as at the time, because the flames became too daring for anyone to contemplate an attempt to save the child.

However, Michael, according to her, a native of Enugu State who just couldn’t bear the crying infant roasted in the burning flames, braved the odds and went into the fire to bundle out the baby.

The young unmarried Igbo man in her estimation did only what Jesus Christ could have done in such situation as it is not common for an ordinary mortal to save his fellow human being at the expense of their own life.

“Neither my husband nor me could have done what Michael did if we were present at the time of the incident, at such risk.

I would have consoled myself to say after all, God would give me another child to compensate for the loss one. Honestly, I feel pains and I’m still shocked,” the woman stressed.

The 61-year-old father of the deceased, Anthony simply spread his hands up in appreciation that God is the giver and the taker of man’s life when it pleases Him.

He said “there is no cause for regret since my son did a marvelous work and died in the cause of doing good. He was a friend of little children right from his childhood and that was what propelled him to risk his life.”

Mr. Anthony explained that his late son’s health began to deteriorate on Saturday night following his frequent visits to the toilet, but that on the fateful Sunday, he was still in high spirits until later that afternoon when his chest pain became excruciating.

However, according to the father, four doctors and the nurse on duty that night battled extensively to revive Michael while he was being transfused with blood, adding that his entire frame had depicted danger.

“I particularly, appreciated the doctors and the nurse on duty that night, they did their best but I think God needs him now,” he concluded.

Similarly, a neigbour, Ikechukwu Obeta who was among the sympathizers at the deceased home located opposite Vaatia College, off Abu King Shuluwa Road, Makurdi, said the death of Michael certainly leaves a wound in the heart of anyone who knows the cause he fought and died for.

“He died doing a humanitarian work, a death typical of Jesus Christ’s sacrifice on the cross of Calvary. We will continue to appreciate his rare courage in the face of danger,” Obeta said.

Some members of his church, Judith Akujobi and Ifeoma Chike both described the late man as a peace loving brother who took his duties as a worker in the electrical department of his church seriously and to the admiration of all.

For his mother, Mrs. Edith Anthony, a women leader in their family church, ‘The Lord Choosen’, her son’s death cannot be forgotten in a hurry and to God be the glory in all things whether pleasant or otherwise.

She yawned as though lost in deep thought and then paused to say, “I give thanks since it is the will of God.”

In a similar vein, late Michael’s uncle, Eugene Eureka still in disbelief over the shocking death of the good Samaritan, who is the fifth born in a family of seven children, comprising five males and two females.

“I still don’t believe that my brother’s son is dead. God took him?”, he asked rhetorically.
The eldest son of the family, Moses Anthony also described his late brother as a lover of children, adding that, “little wonder he paid the supreme price”.

Incidentally, Angel Michael has been reportedly penciled down for a proposed national award expected to be conferred on him by October 1, just as his family according their spokesman, was to receive a donation of $20, 000 dollars (N3.2million) from a Lagos-based company to foot the medical bill this week.

Interestingly, the sacrifice made just could be Michael’s assignment on earth as in the thinking of his mother, “He has done God’s will. My son finished well.”

Rest in peace Michael Anthony