Cordale Sheffield, 30, displayed incredible bravery when he rushed back into his burning Cleveland apartment to rescue his two stepchildren after an explosion. The incident left him severely burned across 92% of his body.
The explosion happened Monday afternoon, violently blowing Sheffield away from the building. Yet, instead of escaping, he faced the flames head-on to save the children. Footage of the aftermath shows his painful injuries, with portions of his skin peeling away.
Living in the Garden Valley Complex with his girlfriend and her two kids, Sheffield was determined to get them both out. He urged his 10- and 11-year-old stepchildren to jump, but only one was able to. In a harrowing moment, he had to go back into the blazing building to save the other child, which is when he sustained severe burns.
His sister recounted discovering the news of the explosion through a distressing video on social media, noting how alarming Sheffield looked afterward, comparing him to a zombie. After undergoing multiple surgeries, he is facing a long recovery in the hospital, expected to last at least six months.
The explosion around 4:30 PM wreaked havoc, displacing approximately 100 residents and damaging 44 units, leading to an estimated $3.5 million in damages. A heart-stopping video captured the moment when a woman tossed her baby out a second-floor window into the arms of a good Samaritan below.
Fire officials reported they are still investigating the cause of the explosion. In the meantime, services have been set up to assist those displaced by this tragic event.
