Tragedy has struck for one family that is mourning to loss of a mother who died after an act of courage.
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38-year-old Bonnie Pierce's body was found unresponsive in the debris that was the aftermath of a burning building.
Mother Dies After Courageous Act Amid Fire
According to an excerpt from the fundraiser made in her honor, Bonnie was inside her apartment. Which she and her two daughters, Aurora and Grace, share in Saint Paul, Minnesota, on Saturday afternoon (August 29). When a significant fire broke out.
Bonnie initially made it out of the building safely. And Aurora was able to escape from the unit by "kicking out her air conditioning unit and climbing through the window." However, Bonnie's motherly instincts immediately kicked in once she realized that Grace was still inside the building. She rushed into the apartment building to find Grace and bring her to safety. However, that attempt was unfortunately, unsuccessful. In the aftermath of the melee, firefighters later found Bonnie and Grace inside the home.
"CPR was immediately performed. She had been without oxygen for approximately 15 minutes and sustained burns covering 48% of her body," the GoFundMe reads. "Despite the incredible efforts of the first responders and medical team who fought to save her, Bonnie ultimately succumbed to her injuries and passed away."
Social Media Reacts to Tragedy
To make the story even more heartbreaking Pierce was found in a position that confirmed she was shielding Grace with her body to protect her from the flames of the burning building.
"Bonnie was protecting her daughter until the very end, making the ultimate sacrifice in an effort to save her child," the GoFundMe adds.
The heartbreaking story led to an outpouring of reactions once it went viral on social media.
"My heart I hope she finds peace and I hope her kid grows up knowing her mom died a hero," one user wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.
"A mother's love knows no bounds. May she rest in peace, a true hero," a second user chimed in.
Grace is in the hospital being treated for the injuries that she sustained. Fortunately, she is expected to make a full recovery,
