Husband and wife are rescued from their burning home

Moorhead, Minn. (WDAY TV) - A husband and wife are at MertiCare tonight; one in critical and the other in guarded condition after their north Moorhead home caught fire. Norma Erickson was able to escape the fire which started accidentally in their basement around 1 am. However, her husband Lyle got trapped inside after he collapsed inside the front door, initially blocking officials' attempts to rescue him.

Family members are in between the home and the hospital staying near the older couple as they fight for their lives. Their daughters say they are both sedated and on oxygen. One of the main reasons Lyle has even a fighting chance tonight is because of some heroic efforts of local rescuers.

It took three police officers to free him from the burning home and possibly a few moves learned in high school. Police are typically called to scenes like this to patrol the perimeter, secure the scene and assist the fire department, but as you'll see, this morning was not typical.

At 1 am, Police Officer Matt Wychor found himself on the front lines of a fire, pushing his way into a burning home, grasping for air, and Lyle Erickson’s life.

“Not worried about me, worried about him”

Two other officers managed to get the door open a few inches, as they struggled against thick smoke and the weight of Lyle’s body. It was the final push from Officer Wychor which allowed them to rescue the unconscious man, now covered in black soot.

“I grabbed one arm, he grabbed one arm.”

You can attribute this former wrestler's actions to his family's athletic genes, his training as an officer, or just being at the right place at the right time, but if you ask him, he'll says he was just doing his job.

“In the gym with the boys.”

“I needed to help.”

Fire Chief Joel Hewitt says there are so many toxins released during a fire; he's not surprised Lyle passed out, but the couple and his fire crews challenges didn’t' end there, they were fighting a fire, happening underneath them.

While it was a challenge, fire crews eventually won the battle against the blaze, but of course, tonight, Norma and Lyle Erickson still battle for their lives. Family members say the next 48 hours will be a telling time.