The inspiring bravery of ‘angel’ Michael

Last August, just thirteen days before his 28th birthday, a tragic event occurred that would alter the course of Michael Anthony’s life.The shrill cries of a toddler in the Anthonys’ neighbourhood in Makurdi drew Michael’s attention to a house on fire. The toddler’s cries were coming from behind the tongues of flames, inside the building.As […]

Last August, just thirteen days before his 28th birthday, a tragic event occurred that would alter the course of Michael Anthony’s life.
The shrill cries of a toddler in the Anthonys’ neighbourhood in Makurdi drew Michael’s attention to a house on fire. The toddler’s cries were coming from behind the tongues of flames, inside the building.
As frightened neighbours looked on helplessly, Michael dashed past them and went into one of the rooms where the cry was coming from. He picked the 16-month child and threw him out of the window to those outside.
Michael Anthony died a week later, from the first and third degree burns he suffered in the rescue effort.
Michael’s heroism lay, not just in the fatal life-saving brevity of his conduct, but also in the fact that he gave no thought to tribe or region in plunging into danger to rescue the child whose parents had no affinity to the Anthonys’ ethnic background. Neighbours now call him ‘Angel Michael’.
 In a country in dire need of heroes, Michael Anthony, through his spontaneous response in a dire situation, and throwing his own safety aside to rescue another life, has proved to be one.
Heroes don’t need to be advertised; they can be recognised through their conduct.
It was no wonder that from far and near, when news of Michael’s bravery became public, and he lay in his hospital bed at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital in Makurdi, offers of assistance came in a deluge.
His story was an unusual one of selflessness in a country in need of such values.
A Lagos-based firm made a commitment of 20,000 dollars to help offset the medical bills.
The federal government provided 2 million and was making plans to take him to a hospital abroad.
President Goodluck Jonathan even announced that Michael would be invested this year with a posthumous national honour, the nature of which was not stated.
Michael Anthony’s parents hail from one of the states in the South-East, and had come to Benue State to settle some thirty years ago.  Born on August 26, 1985, Michael was on the way to realising his academic career when he entered Apir Community Secondary in the High Level area of Makurdi.
That hope was dimmed when he dropped out of school in the senior secondary class. The reason was the parents’ lack of money.
On his death bed, Michael still nursed the hope of some day continuing his education to obtain a degree in electrical engineering. That rekindled hope was borne by the initial signs of recovery that he showed, and the assurances of the doctors that his burns case was within their competence to handle, and there was therefore no point in contemplating sending him outside the country.
Indeed, a television programme that did a follow-up on the August 13 fire incident showed Michael engaged in some physical exercise.
But all these signs of recovery proved to be false flags.
Michael Anthony’s condition deteriorated; the doctors’ attempts to stabilise him failed.
Recognition of Michael Anthony’s heroism should not be that of the federal government alone; his story should be one that is told everywhere, in Benue State, where he lived all his life-and died there in his youth-in the local government where the family lives. These government authorities should also honour his contribution and memory.
It does not mean one should jump into the fire in order to be hero; but the one who has done it, not for one moment thinking of being a hero for his action, deserves the recognition of the state and society.