An employee of a supermarket inside the building where a carbon monoxide leak sickened dozens is being praised as a hero for bringing people to safety. NY1's Michael Scotto reports.
Even before firefighters arrived on the scene of a massive carbon monoxide leak, Mike Jording sprung into action as co-workers collapsed around him.
Jording works at an Amish Market. Told that someone had passed out in the basement, he walked downstairs to find one of his colleagues on the floor in a food prep area, which was not equipped with carbon monoxide detectors.
"One fainted," Jording said. "I went down to see why she fainted, it was a woman. By the time I got to the bottom of the steps, my other manager, who was tending to that lady, fainted also. And at that split second, somebody else fainted right behind me, and I knew it was carbon monoxide."
Jording, who says he's 65 and suffering from leukemia, started bringing people to safety.
"I started picking up one, carried one up the stairs. Told everyone to get out. Everybody was, there was 20 people down there," Jording said.
Firefighters who responded saw their carbon monoxide meters hit the maximum of 1,000 parts per million as they made their way through the building. Normal levels in a home range up to just 15 parts per million.
Thanks to his quick action, none of his co-workers was seriously injured.
Jording says he never thought twice about risking his own life.
"I love my people, and I'd do anything for my people," Jording said. "I'm in charge, and the captain don't leave the ship."