Iranian boy hailed as national hero after tragic death in fire rescue

A teenage boy in Iran who saved the lives of two women from a burning house earlier this month before dying has been hailed a national hero.

Ali Landi from the southwestern city if Izeh was laid to rest on Friday at the age of 15, unable to survive the third-degree burns he sustained on September 9, when he saved a woman and her daughter from their burning residence.

He had been moved to Telaghani Hospital in the city of Ahvaz with 90% burns, according to Anadolu Agency who spoke to family sources.

Due to his worsening condition, Ali was then moved to the Imam Musa Kazem Hospital in Isfahan where he spent two weeks in an intensive care unit, but succumbed to his wounds.

A 15-year-old brave boy #Ali_Landi from #Izeh passed away due to severe burns after rescuing two women from fire trapped in a burning house.#علی‌لندی#علی_لندی#ایذه#بختیاری#Hero pic.twitter.com/x0rTOPkcMm

— Kabir Bakhshaei (@Kabir_Bakhshaei) September 24, 2021

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi said Ali's "story of self-sacrifice must be narrated through art and literature to inspire future generations".

Several other officials offered condolences and hailed the teenager's bravery.

The hashtag #AliLandi was trending on Twitter in Iran as people share photos of him before the incident and in hospital, joining tributes to the young man now seen a hero.