A 12-year-old autistic boy from Bisbee, Arizona, is a hero for saving his family from a house fire. Unfortunately, while young Alex Swigart was the first to smell the smoke and wake his father, young Alex did not make it out of the house.
According to CNN, Joseph’s father said Alex woke him and his girlfriend up and they were headed out the door. As they headed outside, Mr. Swigart went to get a hose, and it was at this time he realized that his young son was no longer beside him.  The young autistic boy never managed to make it outside.
Mr. Swigart ran to the porch but the fire was out of control. He ran to the side of the house to try and go inside, but firefighters had to hold him back. The flames were so out of control, even the firefighters were having a rough time.
In what can only be described as the most difficult part of this story, Mr. Swigart describes yelling into the house only to hear his son Alex respond by yelling back, “Daddy, I can’t breathe!”
When the fire was finally under control, the firefighters entered the home to find young Alex’s body huddled in the corner near his father’s bed. It appears that after this scared, young boy woke his father, he was never following his father out the door.
A memorial has been started by his classmates, as well as a fundraiser for the family. Donations can be made at any Bank of America and the Alex Swigart Memorial Fund. This family is going through a huge emotional loss, as well as losing everything they own.
April is National Autism Awareness Month and this story only shows just how special children with autism really are, as this autistic boy is a true hero.
Photo provided from the KGUN9 News in Tucson
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