Heroes aren’t born. They’re made.
Yesterday morning Alphonse Lyoura was just your average baggage handler working at Belgium’s Zaventem Airport. Today he’s a national hero, at a time when one is desperately needed.
Alphonse didn’t flee the first blast in yesterday’s tragic attack the International Airport in Brussels. He didn’t flee the second blast either. Instead, Alphonse chose to carry 7 wounded people to safety and remain behind to stay with one man who was dying.
Shortly after the police evacuation Alphonse was interviewed by French news network AFP:
“I helped at least six or seven wounded people. But we took out some bodies that were not moving. It was total panic everywhere.”
Alphonse was wrapping bags by check in desks + heard explosion.He pulled 7 wounded people to safety #brusselsairport pic.twitter.com/tbOQv0VVtE
— Gavin Lee (@GavinLeeNews) March 22, 2016
In one particularly disturbing video clip circulating online Alphonse is heard shouting “I’m not leaving, get over here where it’s safe” while escorting wounded people to the exit of the smoke-filled terminal building. Sheer selfless bravery.
Only when the police arrived and asked him to leave did Alphonse actually exit the airport himself, even then he made sure everyone else got out first.
As Mr. Rogers once said, in life, “Look for the helpers.” We should be grateful people like this exist.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8iCndxSGSLM
https://twitter.com/CountRapula/status/712453894253711360
@BBCWorld @GavinLeeBBC #Terrorists create heroes. The hero doesn't care about your #religion and the hero is just a good human-being.
— Scotlands Tweets (@ScottishTweets) March 22, 2016
@GavinLeeBBC Alphonse you've just exposed their failure. If one of us still selflessy help others, they haven't won. They will never win.
— Diazpez (@diazpez) March 22, 2016
