North Fort Myers teen hailed as hero after saving family from fire
By Natacha Casal
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NORTH FORT MYERS, Fla. (WBBH) — A 17-year-old boy from North Fort Myers, who bravely saved his family from a mobile home fire, has died, according to his church, after the fire broke out Tuesday morning along Breeze Drive, west of Slater Road.
Rebekah Chamberlain, a neighbor, said, “He gave his life to help others, to save others. He will forever, ever be my family’s hero.”
Chamberlain explained that if it wasn’t for Nikola Knight, her family and many neighbors wouldn’t be here.
“If he had not gone back and banged on his mother’s bedroom window to get her out, not knowing that she wasn’t there, my husband had not would not have woken up. Our house would have been next,” she said.
Neighbors reported that Knight was on fire before trying to roll on the grass to save himself.
Despite his efforts, he did not survive.
Christine Gray from Suncoast Estates said, “That boy did everything he could. He was on fire and still trying to alert and save everybody else. This boy literally gave his life up for others.”
Chamberlain shared that Knight attended Island Coast High School, was an avid runner, and had aspirations of joining the Marines.
“This boy was a true hero. If it had not been for him making the ultimate sacrifice, my family and I wouldn’t be here. I wholeheartedly believe that this kid. He paid the ultimate sacrifice,” she said.
The North Fort Myers Fire District has stated that it is unable to determine what sparked the fire.
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