An elderly man is being hailed a hero after helping three fellow residents escape a devastating fire that ripped through a Quebec seniors residence.
Arnaud Cote sprang into action overnight Thursday when a fire broke out in Residence du Havre, located in L鈥橧sle-Verte.
The 84-year-old, who is one of the few residents of the retirement home who doesn鈥檛 require a wheelchair or walker, awakened three female residents who lived near him on the second floor. Cote told the women to get dressed and get out of the building.
Cote and the women all made it downstairs together, but Cote didn鈥檛 have time to put on his boots. He went outside into frigid temperatures with only his slippers on his feet.
His niece, Dominique Cote, says she鈥檚 grateful her uncle is in such great shape.
鈥淗e has a good heart and he is healthy,鈥� she told CTV Montreal. 鈥淗e is my hero.鈥�
Others were not able to escape the complex. Investigators confirmed Friday that at least eight people have died in the fire, and about 30 people are still unaccounted for -- most of them with mobility issues.
With a report from CTV Montreal鈥檚 Maya Johnson
