POLITICIANS MIGHT LIKE to regard themselves as local heroes – but rescuing people from burning buildings is beyond the call of duty for most.

Not so for Newark mayor Cory Booker, who dived into a neighbour’s house in flames and pulled a woman out. And all before the fire department arrived.

Booker rushed into the building with his security detail after arriving home to find the neighbouring house on fire, the New Jersey Star-Ledger reports. They discovered the woman inside, Booker told the paper:

I just grabbed her and whipped her out of the bed.

Both Booker and the woman were taken to hospital, where the mayor was treated for smoke inhalation. He tweeted:

Booker also thanked his security officers, who he said had helped evacuate the burning building. The local fire chief called Booker’s heroics “a very successful rescue”.

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