Ohio Boy, 6, Severely Burned in Car Fire Shielding Younger Brother from Flames with His Body

A shocking and unexpected accident rocked a Cleveland, Ohio, family's lives when their car suddenly caught on fire. Two children were inside the burning vehicle that eventually exploded.

Iesha Newson was enjoying an ordinary day with her two sons. She needed to run some errands and pick up her prescription medication at a local shop. The mother never imagined that a quick trip would become a terrible nightmare.

Like many other mothers, Newson was loving and compassionate toward her kids. They meant everything to her, and she did her best to care for them. Sadly, while she left them alone in her car for a few minutes, they found themselves in grave danger.

The Shocking Scene

On September 18, 2022, Elijah and Dean came face-to-face with a scary ordeal. Mom Newson ran into the shop for a second, taking her car keys with her and leaving her boys behind.

The mother had words of advice for other parents. She hoped they would learn from her regrettable experience.

When she returned to the outside parking lot, she was met with a shocking scene. Her car was on fire, and she panicked, likely thinking of the worst-case scenario.

The Boys Were inside the Car

Strangers saw the flames and the boys inside the car and rushed to help. They managed to pull little Elijah from the vehicle, and the youngster's screaming saved his brother's life. Newson shared:

"If it wasn't for Elijah screaming and pointing to the car for his brother, [the strangers] only would have [gotten] him, so they went back for him."

Moments after they pulled Dean from the car, it exploded. The family was grateful for the kindness of strangers and that their kids survived. Sadly not everyone escaped unscathed.

A Brave Big Brother

Dean was a brave big brother and suffered second and third-degree burns because he saved his sibling. The youngster covered his brother with his body to protect him, taking on all the pain. Their mother added:

"'I'm Spiderman, mom, I saved my brother.' That was the first thing he said to me when he woke up."

Dean's actions were undeniably on the superhero level, and he deserved all the praise for keeping his precious sibling safe. Elijah only sustained minor burns, and he had his brother to thank for that.

He Was Proud of Himself

Dean recovered at Metro Hospital, and his positivity was commendable. Despite the pain, he felt proud of his actions and beamed when speaking with his mother. She was in awe of her brave boy, noting:

"I would have never thought for him to put his brother in the trunk and stand in front of him so he wouldn't get burned. That's very selfless for a six-year-old."

Assistance for the Traumatized Family

The shocking ordeal traumatized the family, and Newson, who works as a chef at Propaganda Coffee, could not return to her job. She lost her car and computer in the blaze and needed assistance from the public.

The family has a GoFundMe page—by October 7, more than $7,000 had been donated. The youngster's road to recovery would not be easy, and his relatives appreciated every little bit of help. A post on their fundraising page stated:

"[Newson] helps anyone in need, without hesitation. Now it’s our turn to help her when she needs it the most."

The Mother's Advice for Others

The mother had words of advice for other parents. She hoped they would learn from her regrettable experience and said:

"The most important thing I learned from all of this is not to leave my children in the car, not even for three minutes because in three minutes you never know what can happen."

Newson had reportedly purchased the car two months before the incident, and the keys were not in the ignition when the fire occurred. The cause of the accident is still under investigation.

We wish the family strength as they navigate life after this scary ordeal. May God bless little Dean for his bravery. Well done, little one!

Click here for a story about a four-year-old boy that saw his sister's cot on fire. He acted quickly and did something truly heroic.