Airport Worker Hailed a Hero By Pulling People to Safety After Brussels Attack

News

 | March 22, 2016 | By Kenny Servera

In the midst of unspeakable tragedy, one man is hailed as a hero.

After the horrific attacks in Brussels, Belgium on Tuesday morning, an airport worker named Alphonse Youla is being hailed a hero after pulling seven wounded people to safety. Youla, who was wearing bright yellow trousers, was wrapping bags at the check-in desk when he heard several loud bangs and a man shouting something in Arabic.

“I saw people lying on the ground with a lot of blood who weren’t moving anymore,” Youla said in a statement with The Wall Street Journal. He reportedly carried at least seven wounded people into elevators to get them away from the horrific scene.

BBC News Europe reporter Gavin Lee tweeted out a photo of the hero along with his minor injuries.

Alphonse was wrapping bags by check in desks + heard explosion.He pulled 7 wounded people to safety #brusselsairport pic.twitter.com/tbOQv0VVtE

— Gavin Lee (@GavinLeeBBC) March 22, 2016

Social media praised Youla for his actions. One Twitter user tweeted that the world needs more people like Youla:

People like Alphonse make the world beautiful.https://t.co/F80a90Kh9s

— Ben Phillips (@benphillips76) March 22, 2016

ISIS is claiming responsibility for the bombing that killed more than 30 people at a Brussels subway station and airport.

Over a dozen people were killed and about 100 people injured at the airport. The attack on the subway killed at least 20 people and injured over 130 people.

According to The Wall Street Journal, ISIS carried out the attack because Belgium is “a country participating in the international coalition against the Islamic State.”

Although chaos occurred, it is great to see glimpses of humanity emerge out of this tragic event.

Many are sharing their thoughts of support and condolences with Belgium during this time.