An Indiana delivery driver whose late-night rescue of five children from a burning home drew national attention has shared new details about what happened inside the smoke-filled stairway on July 11. Although widely praised for his bravery, the 25-year-old said fear was very real in the moment—but the cries of a child pushed him forward.

Nicholas Bostic was driving through a Lafayette neighborhood near midnight when he noticed a house engulfed in flames. Realizing he had left his phone at home, he abandoned plans to call for help and ran directly inside. Thick smoke blocked his vision, and he initially believed the home was empty—until he saw the outline of a teenager attempting to guide several younger children to safety.

Bostic said the sight of flames already rising halfway up the staircase forced a moment of doubt. According to him, there was one overwhelming thought: getting to the children before the fire did. He managed to help 18-year-old Seionna Barrett, her two younger siblings, a one-year-old child, and a visiting friend escape to the street outside.

But then came the news that would force him back into danger. Seionna’s six-year-old sister, Kaylani, was still inside.

Bostic later described the decision to re-enter the burning home as instinctive. He could not see through the smoke and tried searching beneath beds and in closets before heading back toward the staircase. That was when he heard faint crying from upstairs.

He admitted that fear nearly overtook him, recounting the moment he thought, “I don’t want to die here.” However, he said he also understood that the child had no other help coming, and turning back was not an option.

With limited visibility, he followed the faint sound until he found the girl. After wrapping her securely in his arms, he attempted to navigate back through the house. Unable to return the way he came, Bostic broke a window on the upper floor and held Kaylani close as he jumped to safety, using his body to absorb the impact.

He sustained significant injuries, including smoke inhalation, burns, and a deep laceration on his arm. As paramedics treated him, he asked only one question: “Is the baby okay?”

The children, remarkably, escaped with minimal injuries. Only Kaylani required light medical attention after the fall. Their parents, David and Tiera Barrett, met Bostic at the scene and later thanked him publicly, calling his actions life-saving and beyond anything they could have expected from a stranger.

Local authorities echoed that sentiment. Lafayette Police Department’s Lt. Randy Sherer noted that Bostic’s willingness to enter the home multiple times demonstrated a rare level of courage, saying his actions were not simply brave—they were extraordinary.

A community fundraising effort launched in the aftermath raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to help replace the family’s belongings and support Bostic’s medical recovery.

Despite the recognition, Bostic maintains that he had no formal training and no special equipment; he simply acted because he believed someone inside needed help. His account continues to resonate across the country as an example of quick decision-making, resolve, and the instinct to protect others in a moment of crisis.