13.11.2026 17:17
Yavuz Sarı, a 55-year-old partially paralyzed man who was trapped in a house engulfed in flames after a stove tipped over in Bolu, escaped death thanks to the heroism of neighborhood headman Sabri Şenel, who raced against seconds. As soon as he heard the cry of "I'm burning" coming from inside, Şenel, disregarding his own life, broke down the door and plunged into the thick smoke, carrying the unfortunate man he found on the floor on his back, preventing a disaster.
In a fire that broke out in Bolu after a stove tipped over, a 55-year-old paralyzed citizen trapped in his home was rescued thanks to the timely intervention of neighborhood headman Sabri Şenel. Breaking down the door and entering the thick smoke, Şenel picked up Yavuz Sarı, whom he found on the floor, and carried him outside on his back.
Sabri Şenel "I'M BURNING" — WHEN HE HEARD THE SCREAM, HE BROKE DOWN THE DOOR The fire occurred yesterday evening on Dağıstanlı Street in the Dodurga Neighborhood of Bolu. In the single-story house belonging to 55-year-old Yavuz Sarı, who was learned to have suffered partial paralysis and difficulty walking, a fire broke out as a result of a stove tipping over.
Neighborhood headman Sabri Şenel, upon hearing about the fire, closed his nearby shop and rushed to the scene. Seeing thick smoke rising from the house, Şenel called out to Sarı from in front of the door. When a cry for help came from inside saying "I'm burning," he broke down the door and entered the house.
HE CARRIED THE PARALYZED CITIZEN OUTSIDE ON HIS BACK Şenel, stating that the house was completely dark due to the thick smoke, found Yavuz Sarı lying on the floor. Paying no heed to the flames and smoke, the headman took Sarı in his arms and carried him out of the house on his back.
Upon notification, medical, police, and fire crews were dispatched to the scene. With the fire department's intervention, the fire was brought under control and extinguished. Yavuz Sarı, affected by the smoke, was taken to the hospital by ambulance after first aid. Headman Sabri Şenel, who was exposed to smoke during the rescue, also received oxygen therapy at the scene. The house became unusable in the fire, and an investigation into the incident was launched.
"THAT FEELING INSIDE THE FLAMES IS VERY HARD" Neighborhood headman Sabri Şenel, recounting the terrifying moments he experienced, said that Yavuz Sarı's sister called him and asked for help.
Şenel said, "Yesterday evening, Ms. Filiz, the sister of Yavuz Sarı, who was in the house that burned, called me. She said, 'My headman, my brother called me. He knocked over the stove, and right now there is a fire inside the house; please help.' Since I had a shop close to the scene, I closed my shop and ran here. As I approached, I saw smoke coming from the house. I came to the door and shouted, 'Mr. Yavuz, Brother Yavuz.' When I heard a voice from inside saying 'I'm burning,' I broke the door and went in. The inside of the house was completely dark and covered in smoke. I saw Brother Yavuz lying on the floor. Despite the fire and thick smoke, I went inside, embraced Yavuz Sarı, who was lying on the floor, put him on my back, and carried him outside," he said.
"WE ARE GLAD THAT WE SAVED A LIFE" Şenel, stating that Yavuz Sarı's health condition was good, expressed that the citizen could not stand due to partial paralysis and could walk with the help of a cane.
Şenel said, "After I got him out, I called the necessary places. Brother Yavuz was at the hospital last night; his treatment has now been completed. He had suffered partial paralysis and could not stand. He could already walk with a cane. Right now he has no problems; his health is good. Inside that smoke, you couldn't see your hand in front of your face. That feeling inside the flames is a very difficult feeling. But we are glad that we saved a life."