Norristown Twelve-year-old Youth Posthumously Honored for Bravery

Sanford Harling III, the Norristown youth who died trying to save his father from a burning house, has been honored for his bravery with the Carnegie Medal, writes Julie Shaw for Philly.com.

The medal is awarded by the Carnegie Hero Fund Commission to individuals who display outstanding heroism by risking their lives to save others.

Sanford is the youngest recipient of the award and the first from Pennsylvania. He died on February 5 after attempting to rescue his father, Sanford Harling Jr., who recently had hip surgery and was stuck on the second floor of the burning building.

“I’m going to go back in to get my dad because he’s walking with a walker,” the boy told his friend after managing to get free from a family friend who tried to hold him back.

Unknown to Sanford, his father had escaped by jumping from a second floor window onto the grass below. Sadly Sanford never made it out and his body was found by firefighters on the first floor.

He was nominated for the award by the Norristown Fire Department.

“As we said from the beginning, he was a hero,” said Fire Chief Tom O’Donnell.

Read more about the brave boy at Philly.com by clicking here.