UPDATE: Deputies pull disabled man from burning home

NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — An early morning fire at a New Hanover County home turned into the rescue of a disabled man.

It happened early this morning around 1:30 am at a home on Barren Inlet road in the Middle Sound Loop area. Deputies were first to arrive on the scene and found Anne Britt outside. Her husband, George Britt, was still upstairs. Deputies said he could not get out due to being confined in a wheelchair.

Deputies then entered the burning home and found George upstairs. “The flames were literally 3 feet away from him,” said Deputy John Gonnelli. He was one of three deputies that carried George down the stairs and out of the home, while one deputy remained inside to try to fight the fire with an extinguisher to minimize damage until firefighters arrived.

Gonnelli said, “I told him to wrap his arms around my neck and hold on because we are, you know, going to go down the stairs as quick and as safely as we can. So, he wrapped his hands around my arm, I leaned forward, and the two deputies kind of grabbed his belt and we all carried him down the stairs.”

“If we were only 2 or 3 minutes later, it would have probably been a different outcome,” said Gonneli.

“I am proud of how our deputies performed this morning,” Sheriff Ed McMahon said. “Their bravery and commitment to the citizens of New Hanover County is commendable. This is a great example of what this Sheriff’s Office stands for.”

The names of the deputies include (l-r) Corporal C. Hollar, Deputy L Daniels, Deputy J. Gonnelli and Deputy N. Brothers.