Man takes lifesaving leap from burning home in Niles

NILES, Ill. (WLS) -- A suburban man trapped on the second story of his burning home survived by jumping into a makeshift tarp held by two Good Samaritans.

The cause of the fire is still undetermined, but it consumed the Niles house quickly on Tuesday afternoon. The fire started on the upper floor where one of the residents, a man in his mid-50s, found himself with a life or death choice.

Mohammad Mughal was trapped on the upper floor of a home engulfed by towering flames, choking smoke, and glass exploding everywhere.

"The gentleman was choking. He was in desperation. We were looking up and saying to ourselves, 'This is not happening,'" said Andy Iskos.

Pharmacist Andy Iskos had been working nearby. He and others in the clinic rushed to the side of the house.

"Definitely looked like he was stuck inside the flames and the smoke. He was blacker than black. All over," said George Papchristou, a witness.

"Glass is popping off the building like it was popcorn in a microwave," Iskos said.

Iskos and another man acted quickly by grabbing an old vinyl grill cover and stretching it out.

"We were just trying to calm him down and explain to him, 'Come on out. We'll catch you. We'll catch you,'" Iskos said.

"He's looking around. Everybody says, 'Jump! Just don't worry about. Jump. You'll be fine,'" Papachristou said.

Mughal made the leap and his fall was broken by that grill cover. He quickly re-entered the home to get his mom and nephew out from the first floor.

"I walked out the side, side door and looked up, and there was fire," said Saad Mughal, nephew.

"You always see this stuff on TV, and you never think you'll ever be part of it," Iskos said.

Muhammad Mughal was not injured in the jump but did suffer smoke inhalation. He remains hospitalized tonight, but relatives say he's going to be okay.