Mourners packed a funeral home Friday to salute a brave Bronx teen who died after he dashed back into a burning to save a 3-year-old girl who died despite his heroic efforts.
Friends and family filled Manhattan’s R G Ortiz Funeral Home to say farewell to 19-year-old Lucas Silverio, who perished Wednesday two days after 3-year-old Yasleen McDonald died from burns and smoke inhalation she suffered when a fire broke out inside a Bronx high-rise apartment building.
Both suffered burns on over 80% of their bodies.
After saving his grandmother, Silverio heard cries from Yasleen and her mother, who were separated in the dense smoke.
“We were taught as kids to run away from the fire, but he ran toward it to save a life he saw was in need,” Silverio’s cousin, Jesse Alvarez, said at the teen’s wake. “He put his personal safety on hold. He’s not your average 19-year-old.”
Bright floral arrangements lined the walls of the chapel, where Silverio’s mother sobbed on the front row. Beside a white coffin was a large portrait of Silverio sitting on a park bench smiling. Not far from the coffin, a display of sneakers, Yankee caps and Dominican flags filled a corner.
Many mourners wore T-shirts emblazoned with the same picture below the words “Nuestro Heroe,” Spanish for Our Hero.
“I didn’t want him to just be another statistic,” Alvarez said. “I want the world to know there are people walking among us who do selfless acts. I wanted the world to hear his name.”
Among the grief stricken were members of Yasleen’s family, who are forever bonded to Silverio’s relatives in tragedy.
“I’m here to show him love and support, same thing he did for Yasleen,” said Winston Anthony, 27, Yasleen’s uncle. “He’s a hero. He saved Yasleen.”I’m just sad he had to go.”
