RIVERVIEW, N.B. – Elan Saniga stayed by her son, Matt Ward, as smoke crept up the stairs of their home and into the room where Matt lives, along with all he cherishes.
“It’s my child I’m not going to leave him,” she said from outside the Moncton Hospital.
At 5:50 p.m. on Thursday evening, Riverview Fire responded to a call of a residential fire with a trapped person. When they arrived, the first floor of the home was full of smoke.
“They just grabbed his mattress right off the bed and drug him out,” said Saniga. “His vent came undone and it was all about getting him out because the smoke was so thick. ”
Her 22-year-old son lives with a severe form of muscular dystrophy. Global News introduced you to the young man last fall because he’s potentially the Toronto Maple Leaf’s biggest fan.
READ MORE: Inspiring 22-year-old believes in himself, and the Maple Leafs
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Saniga discovered the fire in the basement of their home. She shut the door to the basement and immediately began trying to figure out a way to move her son. The rescue became a team effort involving paramedics, neighbours and firefighters.
“Neighbours started coming and then realizing when they came in that they didn’t know how we were going to get him out. He’s bed ridden, laying on the bed.”
Firefighters were able to drag Matt out of the home on his mattress, but in order to do that, they had to cut off his ventilation.
“When we got here he was in the trauma and they were all standing outside and said they were working on him so at this point I’m thinking it’s not good because he hasn’t had ventilation,” Saniga said.
By Friday, Matt was doing much better but remains in the ICU at the Moncton Hospital.
Saniga said he’s worried about two things – his mom, and his extensive leaf’s collection.
READ MORE: Leafs captain Dion Phaneuf calls fan in Riverview with muscular dystrophy
His collection has suffered from smoke damage. The Toronto Maple Leafs found out, and despite it being draft day, they want to put his mind at ease.
“Our thoughts are with Matthew and his family,” the Toronto Maple Leafs Hockey Club sent in a statement.
“We’re relieved to hear that everyone is safe and we hope that by helping to replace some of his Maple Leafs collection he will know we’re behind him at this time.”
It was a rescue Riverview’s Deputy Fire Chief won’t soon forget.
“When you think what could have gone wrong or the worst case scenario could have played out,” said Robin True. “But in this case we’re fortunate it worked out in the end.”
Matt wanted to send along a message:
“He just wants everyone to know he’s so appreciative. When you can’t move … It’s hard to imagine.”
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