Man dies 6 days after throwing 7-year-old boy from burning home in East Side

SHARE Man dies 6 days after throwing 7-year-old boy from burning home in East Side
avenue_l_e1537301549478.jpg

Apolonio Castellano, 69, died 6 days after throwing a 7-year-old boy to safety from a burning home in the East Side neighborhood on the Far South Side. | Fire Media Affairs

A man died nearly a week after he threw a boy to safety from the window of a burning building in the East Side neighborhood on the Far South Side.

About 3:45 p.m. Sept. 9, firefighters responded to a still and box fire at an apartment in the 10000 block of South Avenue L, according to the Chicago Fire Department and Chicago police.

Apolonio Castellano, 69, and a 7-year-old boy were trapped on the second floor, according to police and the Cook County medical examiner’s office. Castellano took out a window and tossed the boy to police officers below. Two officers caught him.

The boy was taken to Comer Children’s Hospital where his condition was stabilized, authorities said.

Authorities initially reported that Castellano, had died later that day after being taken to a hospital, but upgraded his condition to “very critical” the next day based on information provided by a family member.

Castellano, who lived in the block where the fire occurred, died at 12:15 a.m. Saturday at University of Chicago Medical Center, the medical examiner’s office said. An autopsy Tuesday found he died of smoke inhalation and burns from the fire. His death was ruled an accident.

The Latest
It was the fifth loss in a row and 11th in the last 12 games for the Sox, who plummeted to 3-20.
By pure circumstance, USC quarterback Caleb Williams was on the same flight to Detroit on Tuesday as Washington wide receiver Rome Odunze. Time will tell whether they’re on the same flight out of Detroit — and to Chicago — on Friday morning.
Harrelson says he feels bad for chairman Jerry Reinsdorf, too.
The Cubs also provided an update on outfielder Cody Bellinger’s midgame injury.