First responders saved his life. On Wednesday, he got the chance to say thank you

JeffAnger says he doesn't remember much from May 26, the day Windsor firefighters pulled himout of a burning building.

What he does remember is waking up from a coma severaldays later, grateful to be alive.

"You guys, I couldn't be more grateful not only to be here, but be in a roomful of heroes," Anger told firefighters and paramedics on Wednesday. "You never know what life has in store for you. And that night I never knew what was in store for me.

"But without you guys ...I wouldn't be here and I'm honoured to be in a room full of soldiers, full of heroes."

It was the first time Anger had met the paramedics and firefighters who saved his life. With him were friends and family, who also had a chance to thank paramedics.

Windsor Fire and Rescue Services Chief Stephen Laforet says crews went to the fire on Prado Place around 12:30 p.m. on May 26. Firefighters learned there may be someone else inside the building and went in to do a search.

"For those of you that have never been inside a burning building, it's nothing like you see on TV," Laforet said. "Visibility is zero.

"Imagine the darkest room you've ever been in with your eyes closed. And that's what our firefighters face. It's an unknown, inhospitable and unwelcoming environment."

Firefighters pulled Anger out of the building, and a second crew began life-saving measures, before paramedics took over. After several minutes, Laforet says they got Anger's pulse back and paramedics took him to the hospital.

'Second lease on life,' victim says

"Today is something that we don'tnormally do." Laforet said. "We have Jeff Anger here with us today who reached out, wanted to meet the crews and wanted to thank everyone for for your efforts. And I certainly want to thank everyone for their efforts."

Anger says it was scary to wake up days later and be told what happened. But he says he's been looking forward to the day he could thank firefighters and paramedics in person.

"I've always been grateful ... it's more of a second lease on life," he said. "But being able to see the people again ...I'm grateful that I had the opportunity to share with these guys."

Fire Captain Laz Sofikitis said it was a "blessing" to be able to meet Anger now that he is well.

"To do do this and see him, the emotions you could tell it's hard not to get emotional yourself," said Sofikitis, one of the four firefighters that physically rescued Anger from the blaze.

"There should be another 20 people up here getting recognized ...The paramedics are unsung heroes, they don't get as much credit as they deserve, Windsor police with their escort to the hospital ... doctors, nurses, specialists to help Mr. Anger.

"Everything had to be in place there for Mr. Anger to be here. We are so happy and so humbled."

Firefighters and paramedics received Wednesday letters of commendation for their work that day.

Laforet noted a special medication that Anger was given to help save his life: a cyanokit, which counteracts cyanide. Hydrogen cyanide is a byproduct when some common household materials, like wool and nylon, are not completely consumed in a fire.

Windsor-Essex firefighters and paramedics were the first in Ontario to start carrying the medication.

Anger said there was little else he could save to the crews that saved his life other than "I love you."

"They're true heroes in every aspect of the word," he said. "We all have a job to do each and every day whether we want to do it or not. These guys and girls, they do it day in and day out, without a shadow of a doubt, and save lives.

"They are the true heroes in our community and without question should be commended every day for what they do."

Remember smoke, carbon monoxide alarms: Fire chief

Laforet said that because "not every fire or emergency ends like this," he wanted to remind the public about the need for smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.

By law they must be on every level of a home and outside sleeping areas. If a home has an attached garage or fuel-burning appliances, it's also the law to have a carbon monoxide detector, he noted.

"The events of May 26 illustrate the excellent emergency response we have in Essex County. Our teams are well trained, highly capable and dedicated," he said.

"I'm proud of our Windsor Fire and Rescue Services personnel and our partners at Essex Windsor EMS I'm so happy to have you here. It is through excellent teamwork and tremendous performance that we're here today."