Jermaine, a 35-year-old Philadelphia resident, scaled a 19-story building engulfed in flames to rescue his bedridden mother, Sheila. The incident was both startling and thrilling at the same time when it unfolded on the evening of July 18, 2019, at Westpark Apartments in West Philadelphia, an evening in which that close-knit community is left aghast.
At the time of her frantic phone call, Jermaine was home and his mother was caught inside the burning apartment complex; she had to stay there since she lived on the 15th floor and residents of that building evacuated, save for a bedridden Sheila. So Jermaine hastily traveled to the scene to the determination that he’d do whatever he could to save her.
By the time Jermaine arrived, firefighters were battling the fire, and police officers were blocking access to the building for safety reasons. Elevators were not working, and entry through the main entrance was impossible.
“They told me I couldn’t go in,”
Jermaine said later.
“But I wasn’t about to leave her there.”
With his heart set on rescuing his mother, Jermaine devised a daring plan. He drew on his experience as a roofer and his intimate knowledge of the building’s layout and decided to climb. Using wire cutters to navigate fences and gates, he began the ascent, injured hip and all.
“At every balcony, I found a ledge to hold onto,”
he explained.
“It was all instinct and adrenaline. I wasn’t worried about my safety-only my mom.”
The climb up was exhausting, but at last, Jermaine reached Sheila’s balcony. Through the broken sliding glass doors, she reassured him the fire had not reached her apartment. After reassuring himself that she was safe and uninjured, he began the equally dangerous climb downward.
Immediately, after Jermaine had climbed to the ground, he had been surrounded by police officers right away. He was mortally afraid of some possible legal consequences for having violated the orders and climbed a building without permission. Instead, they let him go recognizing the extraordinary circumstances.
Jermaine escaped uninjured, and Sheila was in no danger because of what her son did. Other residents, four in number, and three firefighters got smoke inhalation but no fatal injuries.
News of the superhuman climb by Jermaine spread in no time. Media referred to him as Spider-Man, while residents took to social media, expressing their awe over his selfless act. “He’s a real-life superhero,” a neighbor said.
Sheila couldn’t be prouder.
“He is my son, and I love him to death, but what he did proves the strong bond between us,”
she said, wiping away tears. Jermaine’s courageous act shone so brightly in the depth of his love for his mother and unwavering determination against the face of danger. The community came out to support him, rejoicing over his heroism in awe of such a remarkable feat.
This miraculous story reminds us of the great extent people go to to protect the ones they love. That night, the only thing that mattered to Jermaine was keeping his mom safe, a mission he accomplished with unmatched courage and an unbreakable bond.
