Injured prison inmate saves lives during fire, then turns himself in

• A Kentucky prison inmate was on work detail when a tornado blasted the state.
• The factory he was working in was quickly engulfed in flames.
• The inmate was initially trapped in the rubble but was able to save himself and several others.

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Marco Sanchez, a prison inmate, has been honored for a series of noble acts he made in December. 

Marco was on work detail at the MCP candle factory in Mayfield when a terrible tornado blasted through Kentucky. The facility was rapidly enveloped in flames, trapping hundreds of people inside.

Marco was trapped in the rubble. When the building collapsed, he suffered a broken leg and numerous broken ribs. He could have easily made his way to safety without looking back when he crawled out of an opening he found, but he did not.

Instead, Marco gathered some tools then returned to the collapsed building to assist others in escaping as well. Authorities said many victims were discovered dead just steps away from where Marco was trapped.

He hitched a lift to the hospital with a firefighter after he’d gotten as many people out as he could. He was treated for his injuries for a couple of hours. When Marco encountered a state trooper in the hospital, he attempted to turn himself in. “Do the right thing,” said the cop, who was so overwhelmed by the tornado response.

When the inmate learned that the jail had been destroyed by the tornado, he contacted prison officials directly!

According to a statement posted on Facebook by the Graves County Sheriff’s Office, they had been hearing a lot of rumors about an inmate who had saved lives at the factory. They investigated for a while and when they confirmed it was Marco, they gave him the Sheriff’s Meritorious Award!

“Mr. Sanchez had a lot of decisions to make that night,” the post read. “He could have made the decision to only save himself, but he didn’t. His actions likely resulted in other lives being saved. The series of decisions he made over the next several hours were the right decisions and we applaud you for that sir.”

Marco will be released in early March, and the statement asks that the public assist him in finding work and a place to live. The public rushed in to assist this selfless hero get back on his feet, and money poured in from all over the world!

Marco has demonstrated that he is a responsible member of society. We applaud him for his bravery that night at the factory, and we’re proud of him for honorably repaying his obligation to society!

Source: Inspire More