Father dies from injuries sustained while saving kids
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A father is remembered for heroically giving his life to save the ones he loves. The fire started when a deep fryer was knocked over. Five people were later sent to the hospital, but now the father of that family is gone. Video by ktnv.com
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Las Vegas, NV (KTNV) -- A father is remembered for heroically giving his life to save the ones he loves. The fire started when a deep fryer was knocked over. Five people were sent to the hospital and now the father of that family is gone.
"They were just trying to start the food so when everybody got here everybody could eat, but it didn't happen like that," says Alejandro Moran.
More than a dozen family members gathered at the home of Polo Rodriguez on Saturday morning to celebrate.
"It was my nephew's baptism and his birthday party that was a week before," says Polo's sister-in-law Margarita Rodriguez.
A deep fryer was accidentally knocked over, igniting the oil and causing a fire to spread into the house and attic. Injured but safe, Polo made it out to the front yard. What he heard back in the inferno made him turn around.
"He was already burnt and he went back inside the house to get the kids because they couldn't find them, but they could hear them that they were yelling. That's why he got it worse," says Polo's brother-in-law Moran.
Family members describe Polo coming out with his wife, and his toddler son and niece in arms -- all of them on fire.
"It was really hard. I was the first one at the hospital, and I let him and my other sister know what was going on," says Rodriguez.
Tuesday night Polo died as a result of his injuries.
"He had to go back in there because he would have thought that's what a dad does. You got to do what you got to do," says Moran. "He died to save his son and his niece."
"It makes us even stronger to try not to think of the worst. Everything is going to get better, I'm just waiting for it to happen," says Rodriguez.
Polo's mother-in-law was also taken to the hospital with minor burns and smoke inhalation, but she is out now and doing better. As for Polo's wife, his son and his niece, they are still fighting for their lives at the hospital.
A special bank account is being set up to cover hospital bills and funeral expenses and to help the family start over. It is set up at Wells Fargo, Act # 5714691705.
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