Kiwanis recognizes student for heroism during fatal fire

Richmond, Virginia, Times-Dispatch
http://www.inrich.com/cva/ric/news.apx.-content-articles-RTD-2008-08-17-0106.html

He might not be comfortable with the title, but he is definitely getting the treatment.

“I’m still not used to the whole label as a hero,” Tim Cocrane said yesterday, “but I appreciate it.”

The Longwood University junior accepted the Robert P. Connelly Medal of Heroism from Kiwanis International at a convention at the Greater Richmond Convention Center.

Cocrane, 22, rushed into a burning house near the Farmville campus and saved three people on March 3, 2007, by waking them up. All four of them jumped from windows to safety.

Two of Cocrane's friends, Ed Cunningham and Byron Jamerson, died in the blaze.

“I think about them and miss them every day,” he told more than 400 people at yesterday’s Kiwanis Capital District Convention fellowship luncheon. He received multiple standing ovations.

Cocrane suffered second-degree burns to his face and third-degree burns to his fingers the morning of the rescue, and he had to be put on a ventilator because of lung damage. The tips of his ears were burned and didn’t grow back.

The Robert P. Connelly Medal of Heroism is named after a 34-year-old Kiwanis member from Illinois who tried to save a disabled woman who had fallen in front of a train in 1966. Both were killed.

Longwood President Patricia P. Cormier, keynote speaker for the event, discussed citizen leadership and the good feeling that comes from doing something that’s beyond what’s expected.
She noted that Cocrane didn’t race into the building so he could win an award.

Cocrane attended the luncheon with his parents and girlfriend. He is spending the summer working in Farmville.

“Everything’s fine,” Cocrane said.