Captain William Basulto and his father were on their way to the NFC title game on January 30 when Basulto’s father noticed smoke coming from his neighbor’s house in East Los Angeles.
“He gets a little bigger and I go, ‘Hey dad, I’m going to check it out,'” Basulto recalled. “Because we didn’t hear any sirens at that time. We came and were able to help people.”
The Rams organization learned of Basulto’s heroism and made arrangements for him, his family and two neighbors to attend Sunday’s Super Bowl game at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood.
In an interview with ABC7, Samantha Gonzalez said she rushed home when she discovered their house was on fire.
“Just seeing my mom covered in ashes and her whole body in the ambulance,” Gonzalez said, “and the fact that I couldn’t walk her into the ambulance was so emotional, I felt so helpless. .”
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Gonzalez’s mother has since been released from the hospital. After the Super Bowl game ended, Gonzalez said that in the long run, she hopes her mother will continue to make progress in recovering from her injuries.
The family set up a GoFundMe account to help pay rising medical bills and repair their home. A fundraiser is scheduled for Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Ramona Convent Secondary School, located at 1701 West Ramona Road in Alhambra.
Those involved in the incident said they were grateful for the Rams’ invitation to the Super Bowl. Gonzalez said she was especially grateful for Basulto’s efforts.
“I think he’s an absolute hero,” she said. “Every day I can’t help but thank him for being there and saving my mother’s life.”
“We appreciate Microsoft and the Rams giving us tickets,” Basulto said, “but for Samantha’s mom to be better and out of the hospital after a few days is amazing.”
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