The father of four asked for help on Facebook Live before he died in a building fire, the family says
CFD
A five-alarm fire broke out Thursday morning at a multi-story apartment building under construction in Charlotte, North Carolina,
CNN
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A construction worker pleaded for help on Facebook Live before he died in a construction site fire in Charlotte, North Carolina, family members told CNN affiliate WSOC.
WSOC
Family members are speaking with WSOC TV about Demonte Sherrill, who they said died in the fire.
Demonte Sherrill, a 30-year-old father of four, was among the 15 who worked the scene, Charlotte Fire Chief Reginald Johnson said at a news conference.
Sherrill’s mother, Onita Sherrill, told the station that she watched the last moments of her son’s life on a Facebook Live with him, pleading for help and praying that he would find a safe place.
“I was hopeful, but just from (Facebook Live) and the way the room was filling up with smoke, I didn’t see it as any hope at that point,” she said.
His father, Terry Campbell, said his son’s boss told him Sherril did not make it out alive, the station reported.
The contractor who employed Sherrill told WSOC on Friday that another worker from his company died in the fire.
Authorities have not confirmed any deaths.
“The search process can be long,” says the Charlotte Fire Department tweeted. “We cannot confirm a loss of life. This fire has been difficult for our community and our firefighters continue to work diligently on the scene to find answers.”
More than 90 firefighters worked to rescue the construction workers, Johnson said.
With heat over 2,000 degrees, the fire was moving quickly, he said.
Mayor Vi Lyles tweeted firefighters rescued a crane operator who was trapped above the blaze that started around 6 p.m.
The building under construction was a multi-story apartment building, WSOC reported.
