Elderly Man Severely Burned After Catching Fire At Long Island Church

Holy Family Church Priests Arrive In Nick Of Time To Make Save

February 24, 2011 8:30 PM

Pastor Gerard Gentleman, left, called 911, while Father Henry Reid, right, used fire extinguisher on a parishioner who was on fire (Photo/Mona Rivera)

Reporting Sophia Hall

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HICKSVILLE, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) — A Long Island priest was being credited with saving the life of one of his parishioners on Thursday after an elderly man accidently set himself on fire near the altar.

“When I got into the church the gentleman was on fire back towards the chapel area. I grabbed the fire extinguisher, put him out and tried to keep him calm until paramedics and fire department arrived,” Father Henry Reid told CBS 2’s Jennifer McLogan.

1010 WINS’ Mona Rivera speaks with the priests who saved the man

A church regular, 89-year-old Vito Badalamente is now fighting for his life, after catching fire near the altar of Holy Family Catholic Church early Thursday morning. Nassau County Police Detective Sgt. James Skopek said his clothes caught fire while lighting candles in the back of the church.

“The fire alarm was activated from within the church,” Skopak told WCBS 880 reporter Sophia Hall.

WCBS 880′s Sophia Hall reports from Hicksville

The emotional priest and pastor offered grim details of a human tragedy that has overwhelmed their Hicksville parish.

“We are not sure how, but his clothing seemed to have caught fire while he was lighting a votive candle by the blessed mother statue,” Pastor Gerard Gentleman said told McLogan.

The senior citizen had collapsed near the sacristy with his clothes ablaze as Father Reid sprang into action.

“He was awake and aware. He was not communicative, just groaning. It was a little scary,” Father Reid said.

Badalamente was rushed to the burn unit at Nassau University Medical Center in critical condition. His stricken family was his side. Sixty percent of his body was scorched by the flames.

“Without the priest’s quick action the 89-year-old would have succumbed to those burns, absolutely,” Detective Sgt. Skopek told McLogan.

“Our whole parish community is certainly affected by something so sad and so tragic to happen inside the church,” Pastor Gentleman added.

The victim’s neighbors were stunned.

“We will pray for him for a speedy recovery. It is very sad,” Elaine Ianazzi said.

“To the priests of the parish, thank you for being around and helping out this man,” Noreen Cullagh added.

Some are calling Father Reid a savior. He said helping his parishioners is the privilege of being a priest.

Police are investigating whether the 89-year-old victim may have fallen into the candles or if his sleeve caught fire while lighting them. He was alone in the church when the accident happened.

Please share your thoughts in the comments section below.

Elderly Man Severely Burned After Catching Fire At Long Island Church

Dreamtime

You are truly an idiot, just looking for drama and nonscience, please stay on topic, do not stray again.

Spectrabei

FYI, nonscience is spelled “Nonsense”. Next time you comment you cn do it with an intelligence above the first grade level.
all the best,
Spectrabei

Yo Mammy

This is al Obama’s fault. WORST PRESIDENT EVER!!
karen s

well said lindy! i’ve worked in health care for over 30years, at one point spending time in the mass general burn unit at a time when 8 of the 10 patients were firemen who had been burned when a fire they responded to also experienced a series of explosions. there is nothing more painful that the experience of debridement and grafting, physical therapy. hey 3 stooges – do yourselves a favor besides prayer and make a donation to the shriners’ burn hospital for children, or burn center of your choice. my thoughts to the elderly gentleman and his family.
rawheadrex

Mr. Badalamente is on my beads for desperate cases. May God ease his pain.
lindy

To you smart alecks who are mocking a terrible tragedy. I’m a nurse and have worked in burn units. There is no suffering like the suffering endured by burn victims. This sweet man was performing a holy act and now is experiencing the most excruciating pain known to man: the burning of of his flesh: over 60% of his body!

CaptainAwesome, Mike and Jole: What you have written you will have to answer for, face to face with God on Judgment Day. I hope dear Mr. Badalamente will be at God’s right side when God pronounces your punishment for your cruel, inhumane, arrogant comments.

You three make me sick.

spectrabei

Why save him, too withstand that sort of hellish torturous PAIN. Better to let him die as he was than to save him to withstand the unsustainable pain (without Drugs) of your nerves having to deal with 60% of your FLESH burned off. He is going to wish he was dead, and I am going to wish it for him… All the best my friend, I will see you on the other side. The priest is a disappointment, a fool, I hope this family sues the church for their loss.

lukuj

They have no grounds for a lawsuit unless the man was forced to light the candles. He did so willingly. This was a terrible accident, not a derelicition of duty by anyone or a deliberate act. It is sad that the first thing that pops into the minds of some people is “lawsuit, lawsuit”. I’m sure the man himself wouldn’t want that to happen.
Dreamtime

Again you are an idiot, do you even have a heart?
I hope he recovers quickly, I hope YOU find enlightenment.
spectrabei

If I walk into Walmart or Target, and they have a broken Vase on the shelf, and I grab it not knowing of the break in the vase and cut myself severely, I have a valid lawsuit. The point i ” Never give a customer a sharp knife or “fire” and allow them to play with it.
JPin

Don’t expect to see too many people on your “other side”. Moral midget.
spectrabei

I Don’t “expect to see” anybody.

AK

Well said Lindy.
John Knoefler

Debridement is insane. I had a burn all the way through the skin by molten steel. I kept is clean and moist and the burned flesh eventually dropped off. I used an antiseptic gel pack. It healed PERFECTLY.
Jason

You’re right. These folks making humorous comments deserve to burn in hell for all eternity. I’m sure that your just and fair deity will see to it.
Jole

Dearest Linda,

Allah loves you! You can be saved! Turn from your false and wicked religion and embrace the One True God! Allahu Akbar! Plus, we don’t use candles much, so there’s that, too!

But if you continue to live in willful ignorance, may I turn your attention to Matthew 7:1?

Count Yob

Poor old man. He must have had a slow perception of and response to what was happening for the fire to get this out of hand. Hope he can recover.
linda

In the Book of Revelation your written in the Book of Life or the Lake of Fire. Saint Jude, patron saint of lost causes, pray for us.
ignatz

prayers to the elderly gentleman who suffered from this tragic accident.

good work by the quick thinking priests. priests are cool people – at least the ones that don’t hurt children.

Like It Is

former,

After reading what you wrote, all I can say is: Sorry you lost your faith.

Dallas

pray…. pray to who? The a$$h01e that made this happen?

Really….No Really

Aw, did somebody get bitterly disappointed at sometime and now has to blame it on the ultimate power since it just can’t be his fault???? The only thing sadder than an actual non-believer is somebody who has fallen and feels the need to be so negative. You Sir, are quite simply a sore and pathetic loser. But remember, if repentence is genuine, so is forgiveness. But that’s his job, as far as I’m concerned you’re not worth it.
rkaob

God doesn’t let these things happen…We put ourselves in a chaotic world. God just walks with us and is there for us when bad things DO happen. Much like a parent who is “there” for their child when they may fall or get hurt. That parent can’t prevent their child from falling, but they can offer comfort when they do.
Jimmy

No, to the God who made sure the priests were there to save him.

Ellen

I pray for the man’s health, and people should realize that this could happen to anyone. We have to all be careful of lighting candles,
Dallas

is that how your god treats his people….?

I Don’t Suffer Fools

Dallas, you’re a moron.
Dorothy Kuns

Dallas, you’re pretty stupid. If non-one was ever hurt or ever died, what kind of a world would we be living in? Just think about it for a few minutes and imagine the chaos.

Dallas

isnt that what you say will happen….

George G

Time of a law banning candles in public places of assembly.

attila_the_huney

Shut up George.

Jole

God hates old people playing with fire, apparently.

deniene

you are a jerk. this is a family friend. have some respect

Lola

Absolutely right, Joe! I pray for the gentleman’s recovery, but this shouldn’t have any bearing on having candles in a church. If he fell and broke a hip walking up the steps, would you outlaw stairs?

Joe

Of course!

CaptainAwesome

Talk about being on fire for the Lord!

Dee in pa

You sound like what is wrong with the world – no decency or sense of respect !

jtorres

I agree with Joe – it was an accident. It could have happened to anyone. And anywhere. If it happened in his kitchen, would you outlaw his stove?
They used to have those electric red lights in my parish and I HATED it. I wanted to light a candle dozens of times but they were all lit because people would let their children run and play and it was a thrill for them to “light” the candles by pushing EVERY button. Those same people do not let their children near the real candles they have now. It’s a tradition it’s a custom and it’s part of my faith. You don’t have to like or agree with it yoiu just don’t go to my parish. Problem solved
Edward Sonner

Forget about the candles… what kind of clothes was he wearing that burst into flame??? Mine only smolder unless I put a torch to them…

Dee in Pa

You are disgusting.
Joe

I think the reporters would have picked up on it he was wearing clothes made out of unusual materials.

Edward Sonner

You have more faith in modern journalists than I do.

OPERATOR147

PLEASE PRAY FOR THIS MAN’S SPEEDY AND FULL RECOVERY.
mike

still believing in God’s ? I got a used chariot for sale to !
CB

YES!!
Debra

Thank you for speaking up Joe, well said
eddie too

yeah!!! one incident in 10 million more or less proves the foolishness of having real candles in a church. moron.
unzar jones

Candles inside a church? Imagine that!
Barbara

My church has rows of candles that are electronic – you push a button and the little “flame” bulb lights up. No fire to worry about. Wouldn’t be a bad idea for all churches to follow suit for the safety of their parishioners, young and old alike.

dstan

Your church sucks. I bet you use powerpoint during sermons, too.

Worried Human

Dude, why would you have that many open flames inside of a structure?

TXDiver

Duh! It is a catholic Church. Candles are everywhere in large rows.
joe

Because it is a church, its been a tradition of the church for 2 thousand years, and its a way to honor the dead, and/or any other holy day (in the cathlic, well, whatever christian faith this church subscribes to) you wish to light a candle for… THAT is why… so, dont let one old man who expereinced an ACCIDENT while doing something completely virutous and in utterly good faith make you think the oh-so-benevolent government should “outlaw” such practives…. people like “Worried Human” up here is yet another closed-minded conformist who believes what he is told and has zero critical thinking capabilities…. let people BE, let FREEDOM REIGN over our society,,, and if an old man catches fire while lighting a candle, well, as you can see, there are people willing to IMMEDIATLEY HELP and, well, accidents happen………but yet, when MASSIVE TRILLION DOLLAR DISASTERS happen on a decades-long scale, we don;t consider that a problem at all… laws OPPRESS – More Government = Less Freedom…. Less Government = More Liberty….. this was an unfortunate accident, but before making ignorant comments, please understnad WHAT you are commenting on….. thank you.

DelaineB

well put, Joe, way to go.

Terry Kainbech

You must be a complete fool. Are you one of the new liberal socialists of the democratic koolaide party. To you guys abortion and windmills equal good. Going to church, marriage and driving cars equal bad. You actually hve not ever been to church have you. You guys want to rule the world and I cannot stand it any longer. I also do not like any of the current members of Congress so I am not a political follower. I vote with my mind not my koolaide of choice.

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Elderly Man Severely Burned After Catching Fire At Long Island Church

Holy Family Church Priests Arrive In Nick Of Time To Make Save

February 24, 2011 8:30 PM

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