A Massachusetts man is still recovering after being pulled by firefighters from his burning apartment building in Brockton.
Seconds after being called to the Madrid Square Apartments on Oak Street Tuesday, firefighters had to use a ladder to pull 82-year-old Paul Mulloy down from the second floor.
The dramatic rescue was caught on video.
"As a 20 year veteran of this department, to watch that video it almost gives me goosebumps," said Brockton Fire Deputy Brian Nardelli. "It doesn't happen everyday. When it does happen, we are fortunate to have the training."
Before first responders even arrived, Nardelli said firefighters were already preparing.
"Buildings like Madrid Square where the fire was yesterday, we pre-fire plan those buildings," he said. "We understand the building's construction."
Once firefighters are inside a burning building, Nardelli said the smoke can make it incredibly difficult for them to see what's in front of them.
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"The movies don't do it justice. We communicate through bump contact," he said. "We communicate through getting right into each other's faces and talking to one another."
According to Mulloy's family, he remains hospitalized in critical condition due to burns over 35 percent of his body.
"I cannot believe how brave the firefighters are to go up that ladder and to carry him down," said his daughter-in-law Michelle Mulloy. "They’re amazing, they’re really heroes."
Mulloy's wife, who was not home at the time, has seen the dramatic video of the rescue.
"She wanted to know what happened," said Michelle Mulloy. "She wanted to see him being taken out... she was horrified. She said he must have been so scared."
A GoFundMe page has been set up to help the Mulloy's as the family will have to start from scratch because of the devastating fire. There’s also concern about medical bills with a long road to recovery.
"They’re retired and on a fixed income," said Michelle Mulloy. "They lost virtually everything they own."
Two firefighters were also hospitalized for burns.
There's still no word on what caused the fire but investigators believe it started in the kitchen.
