Elderly woman critical after burning home rescue

DOUGLAS, GA (WALB) - A brave neighbor who rescued an elderly woman from her burning home says God gave her the strength to save a life.

Fire broke out at a Pearl Avenue home in Douglas early Saturday morning.

Charred furniture and memories are now all that remain.

"It was a real disaster. I mean, it was a real, real terrifying situation, I've never been in a situation like that," said Cheryl Reynolds.

She says she's grateful she got home when she did around 12:20 a.m. Saturday.

Moments later her neighbor's whole bedroom was in flames.

When she looked outside after hearing an explosion, she saw her neighbor's home was engulfed in flames.

She ran out to find two of the residents, Neal and Marsha Pate, safe in the front yard. But Marsha's sister Sue Hutchinson was still inside.

"Everybody outside was screaming, 'Please help this lady! Please help this lady!'" recalled Cheryl's husband Bobby Reynolds.

He started recording the fire on his phone as a Douglas Police officer tried to go in and save Hutchinson.

"When he went inside, the smoke hit him and something happened and he came right back out," said Bobby Reynolds. "But he was black with smoke also."

That's when Cheryl said she had to do something.

"I need to get that lady out," said Cheryl Reynolds. "I can't stand here. I can't be a witness of somebody burning up."

She rushed inside the house and says she saw Sue clear as day.

"I guess God was like, 'No fear. I got you. I got you, Cheryl,'" she added. "And I'm glad God gave me the strength to pull her out to safety.

She was able to pull Sue out of the burning home.

Sue is still in the hospital in critical condition.

The other two residents of the home were released from the hospital.