PIQUA — People filled the Piqua City Hall wanting to see the man they call a hero.
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As reported on News Center 7 at 11:00, Julio DeLeon pulled a man out of a burning house after an explosion in Piqua last month.
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The explosion happened about three weeks ago along Covington Avenue.
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DeLeon was just down the street at a meat market when he heard it happen and ran to help.
“Once I seen the house go up, it was just a this spring into action type of deal,” DeLeon said.
He pulled Brian Markin out of the house, who was hospitalized with serious burns.
DeLeon previously told News Center 7 that he didn’t think he was a hero for his actions; however, the City of Piqua didn’t agree.
Tuesday night, the city presented DeLeon with the Jan Mulder Citizenship Award. It recognizes people who go above and beyond to save another person’s life.
DeLeon’s little brother said he deserved this award.
“He saved me many times during my childhood,” Austin Cooper said. “He’s just a genuine guy, does well by others, sometimes we go through stuff we don’t deserve, but you know, he’s just a hero.”
Growing up in Piqua, DeLeon and Cooper said they were raised to help strangers.
“The role models I had growing up, and you know, look out for each other, regardless if you know them or not. If they’re in the situation, you know, try to handle it as best as you can,” DeLeon said.
Days after the fire, DeLeon said he visited Markin in the hospital.
“It went well, he was getting his bandages, and stuff changed out, so we sat and talked for a little while, kind of running through the day, and you know everything that happened,” he said. “I told him once he gets you know back closer to recovery, we’re going to kind of reconnect and everything.”
Markin’s daughter told News Center 7 that he is out of the hospital and recovering at a nursing home.
We will continue to follow this story.
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