AP Exclusive: Nurse who saved baby from Pakistan hospital fire wishes she could have saved the rest

Islamabad (AP) — Razia Noreen, a nurse at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, witnessed a frightening scene when she noticed flames in the hospital nursery while checking on 15 newborns. Dropping her syringe, she rushed into the nursery, lifting a baby into her arms and shielding it from the spreading fire. She emerged from the room with the infant in her arms eight seconds later, but it was too late to save the other children.

Noreen expressed regret for not being able to save the remaining 14 newborns, stating that she acted on instinct as a nurse and a mother. The government has recognized her bravery by awarding her the prestigious Sitara-i-Khidmat for her service. Noreen remains haunted by the incident, struggling to sleep and experiencing nightmares of the flames and the children.

Despite the trauma, she remains committed to her profession, acknowledging that her dedication to the newborns led her to make the life-saving decision.