Blind Man, 81, Saves Teen-Ager From Fire
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ST. LOUIS — An elderly blind man rescued a teen-ager from a smoky fire that destroyed their house, authorities said.
“I may be blind and old, but I’m still pretty active,” said John Mabry, 81.
Mabry said he was awakened by smoke early Tuesday. “The smoke was strangling me,” he said. “I started coughing, and that’s what woke me up.”
Mabry felt his way up the stairs and grabbed James Mitchell, 13, who was asleep. “I told him, ‘Don’t say nothing. Just get moving. There’s a fire.’ ”
James said he could not see through the smoke, so he grabbed Mabry’s shoulder. “He was guiding me, leading the way.”
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