SHELBYVILLE, IL. —
A 5-year-old boy and his 8-year-old sister are being touted as a heroes by their family and the Mid-Illinois Chapter of the American Red Cross.
Corwin Foley “heard a pop, woke up, smelled smoke and saw flames, and woke his family up,” said Red Cross worker Carl Baker. “He saved their lives.”
The fire started at approximately 1 a.m. Sunday morning and fire departments from Moweaqua, Assumption, and Macon County joined forces to fight the fire. The rural home was completely destroyed. The fire is believed to be electrical.
Mother Abby Foley said that the children, Corwin and Courtney, usually sleep upstairs in the old farmhouse. But that night they fell asleep in the living room and she let them sleep downstairs while she and her husband Edward slept upstairs.
“I believe it was nothing but God,” Abby Foley said. “Corwin screamed as loud as he could. Actually they were both screaming. I have no doubt we would have died.”
The family lost everything in the fire.
The family of four is being assisted by the Red Cross with immediate needs, including food, clothing, medicines, and temporary housing. They have been offered a rental house and the people of Moweaqua have been donating to help the family.
“People have been unbelievable, We want to thank everybody for their help,” Foley said.
An account has been set up at Ayars Bank in Moweaqua for donations to the family.
The farmhome was located 5 miles south and 1 mile east of Moweaqua in Shelby County.
Local News
Related Photos
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The Foley family home in rural Moweaqua was completely destroyed by fire Sunday morning. 5-year-old Corwin Foley is being praised as a hero for alerting his family to the fire and saving their lives. Photo courtesy of the Mid-Illinois Red Cross Chapter
June 26, 2012
Moweaqua Boy Praised for Saving Family
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