Alex Swigart, Occupation: Man; 12-Year-Old Autistic Boy Dies Rescuing Dad From Fire

 This boy was my little brother.. In all honesty from knowing Joe personally sense he "was" my step father at one point in time.I've never liked Joe, he was cruel.. T o all of us. He ruined our lives! Me, my Mother and my older brother.. Alex deserved so much better then being kept away, from his family. Joe, didn't even let Alex call his own Mother.. and the fact that, Joe isn't his biological father. Pretty sure no one knew that! Joe,  is a compulsive liar, and you know I'm sure he could have saved his life, I know If my daughter was ever to be in that situation.. I'd at least try to save her, or die fighting through everything to get her out. It's an instinct you get from being a parent, at  least any parent I know would run in to try to save their own child! Their is so much more I could say, but I doubt any one would believe me either way. All i can say, is that I miss my brother dearly. He is in arms of the lord now, where he belongs, and where he will be truly happy.

God Bless his family. Alex, you are home safe and sound with our Lord.

Rest In Peace.

It's been almost 2 weeks now and I still feel lost and hopeless over the loss of Alex. He was a hero for sure and I hope his friends and family can continue on without him. I have been spending lot's of time with my 12 and 15 year old in the last 2 weeks and realizing that we never know how much time we have together. To everyone- test your fire alarms, have a plan to escape fires and make sure to check that everyone gets out together. If anything Alex's death should be a wake up call to all of us and that something like this should never happen to a child.

i dont understand this story??? the boy woke him up! how can the father and his girlfriend run out of the trailer(trash) and not realize that his son is not by his side???(me confused)??? was he too preoccupied to find his f***king hose to save his piece of sh**t trailer to notice that his son was not by his side, again this story left me extremely sad and confused as a parent

Wow, I can't even express how I feel that so many people have responded this way to my brothers death. It kind of helps to relieve some of the sadness. To know you don't have to be alone. I'm sure Alex would have been honored to receive so much sympathy. I know I would. Thank you all.-Close Family Member

Alex was a better man than most of us would ever dream of becoming. Truly a special human being that made the world better just by being in it. I wish I could trade places with him. I would do it in a minute. He was a special human being who would have done more good in the world than me or anyone else.

This story really hits me hard. My little sister is autistic and has that same heart of gold and selflessness. We all have a little bit to learn from people like this. RIP little man.

Ugg.... Nobody would stop me from saving my son.. NO ONE!!

God bless you, baby. RIP Alex Swigart.

Rest In Paradise Lil dude!, This boy is a Hero period. Obviously God needed him in heaven. I can't even fathom what this father is going through. This is why we need to cherish our time on earth with the one's we love. Cause the last time you see them, may be just that the last time. My heart goes out to you Alex and your father.

I hit like on there because, while it was terribly sad that he died, he died heroically.

Poor thing, what a terrible way to die. I hope his father heals from the pain of losing him. I feel so terrible that he heard him yelling. :|

Found a little tribute page for the lil guy.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/...

http://www.facebook.com/pages/...

This child was a hero in every sense of the word. Rest In Peace Young Man...

2 people got out of that house and the boy did not..doesn't make sense

i get a hinky feeling here for some reason

RIP young man!!!!!!

That made me tear up...that poor kid must have been so terrified.

That was in response to Oppos3d. In my haste to reply to the person who obviously feels the need to bring others down and speak ill of those he does not know I replied to the entire thread instead of a direct reply.

You have no idea what Joe truly did to get to his son. Have you ever watched how fast a trailer can go up in flames. Do you really truly believe that Joe let Alex die? If you do believe such a thing then you have no idea what you are even attempting to talk about. Within minutes not even a firefighter in full gear could have rescued Alex. I think you need to call the different fire crews that responded to the fire. Do you not think it is cruel that you say Joe is a lousy parent that didn't do everything in his power to rescue his son. Do you not see how much of an idiot you are making yourself appear by calling me an idiot, calling Joe a pussy that did nothing, that say using a garden hose was an idiot move. Do you not realize that Joe didn't know Alex was still inside when he started using the hose. Joe did more than knock on a few windows. I hope you have to wake up and suddenly realize you have to live day to day as Joe will for the rest of his life - knowing that in a heartbeat he would have traded place with his son. You, Oppos3d - who can't even spell a person's name correctly- are truly a sad person.

Gosh reading this brought tears to my eyes!! How tragic, RIP

Such a real man. Rest in Peace.

this is so sad :(

how to you submit links? I submitted this link through contact us, but don't think thats the correct way. Thanks

Goodnight all from here in Godzone (New Zealand). Kia Ora.

Awww, I'm in tears reading this as well, RIP ALEX!

poor guy

This father's explanation doesn't make sense.

Looking at this kids picture makes it worse. He was probably really fun to be around. Sucks.

Few things actually make me cry- not because I am too much of a man to show my emotions, but because there are are actually few things worthy of true, honest emotions. With that said, this made me cry and little man is a true hero. RIP Alex.And @Oppos3d- in numerous news stories it told of the father's attempts to re-enter the house after he realized what had happened. 3 cops held him down/back so he did not break through the bedroom window and go inside and get himself killed. The fact that he has to live with this for the rest of his life is unfair and unthinkable- no need to pile on the guy for not dying too....

Alex you are my hero. My condolences to your family.

:(:(:(

That poor baby... Yeah, needed a tissue for this one.

It won't let me reply to you Mark, but awesome share, *group hug* :D

Damn what a tragedy! Tonight im going to make sure all the smoke alarms are working in the house.....

Poor, poor boy. Rest in peace, Alex.

Starting my morning off in tears. Bless his heart.