Atio Castillo was living ‘second life,’ says firefighter who rescued him in 2005

MANILA, Philippines– On December 7, 2005, firefighters, including Lords Hernandez, rescued the Castillo family during a fire in Paco, Manila, including a 10-year-old boy named Horacio “Atio” Castillo III. 

Fast forward to 2017. When Hernandez heard of the news about the death of a young man named Horacio Castillo III, he tried to find out if it was the same boy he rescued more than a decade before.

“I reviewed the photos and I compared the face of the victim. I was able to confirm [that it was him],” he said in Filipino via a phone interview. 

Hernandez said the news was heartbreaking – especially that it was, in his words, already Atio’s second life.

“It was very saddening because the boy was already living his second life,” he said. “I don’t understand why this has to happen.” 

In a Facebook post that went viral, Hernandez expressed his deep sadness over the incident. 

Castillo, a 22-year-old University of Sto. Tomas (UST) law student, was found lying on a pavement on Sunday, September 17, covered with a blanket in the corner of H. Lopez Boulevard and Infanta Street in Balut, Tondo, Manila. (READ: UST law student Horacio Castillo III dies in suspected frat hazing). 

He is believed to have died of injuries after undergone hazing rights to be part of the Aegis Juris fraternity.  (READ: Castillo family: ‘Atio was killed by criminals from Aegis Juris fraternity’)

2005 fire

Hernandez recalled how he found the boy in the fire. He said that Atio fell from a canopy and he was rescued by the firefighters. He was then carried by his father out of their 3-story residence.

The boy later said that his mother was still stuck inside the house, and Hernandez came to save her. 

Now that Castillo had passed away, the firefighter only wishes for justice for the young man.

Hernandez, together with other firefighters who rescued the 10-year-old Atio, said they will be visiting his wake Sunday, September 24. – Rappler.com