Islamabad: A newborn who was rescued alive from the deadly fire at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) has died while undergoing treatment, according to hospital sources cited by ARY News.
The infant had been receiving treatment at PIMS Children’s Hospital and was on a ventilator following the fire, which claimed the lives of 14 other infants. Hospital sources said the newborn died late Wednesday night.
The baby had been rescued from the nursery by nurse Razia Noreen, whose actions during the emergency drew widespread praise across Pakistan.
Noreen reportedly entered the smoke-filled room despite the danger and managed to bring the newborn to safety within eight seconds. Speaking later to The Washington Post, she said her attention at the time was entirely focused on the children rather than her own safety.
“I did not think about becoming a hero; I simply performed my duty as a nurse and as a mother,” she said.
Noreen said her sole objective upon entering the burning room was to give the trapped babies a chance to survive.
Her actions have been widely recognised across Pakistani society, with members of different religious communities and other sections of the public praising her courage and commitment to her duty.
The Government of Pakistan subsequently announced that Noreen would receive the Sitara-i-Khidmat as well as a financial reward in recognition of her bravery during the PIMS fire.