HERO TEACHER: Tributes pour in for Florida geography teacher who died trying to shelter students

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Published by Eliza Murphy: Updated:

Tributes are pouring in for heroic geography teacher, Scott Beigel, who died after opening his classroom door to shelter students during the Florida school massacre at Marjory Stonemason Douglas High School in Parkland on Feb 14.

Beigel was reportedly shot by the gunman before he had the chance to re-lock the door after allowing the fleeing students inside the classroom.

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man looking over his shoulder while sitting in inflatable baby pool
Facebook/Scott Beigel

Now those students are hailing him their hero as they recount those devastating moments.

“He basically saved my life,” Kelsey Friend told CBS News. “If it wasn’t for him, I might not be here today.”

“He unlocked the door and let us in. I had thought he was behind me, but he wasn’t,” Friend also told “Good Morning America” while fighting back tears. “When he opened the door he also had to re-lock it so we could stay safe. But he didn’t get the chance to. I’m so thankful that he was there to help everybody that did live in that classroom because he was in the doorway. The door was still open and the shooter probably didn’t know we were in there because Mr. Beigel was laying on the floor. If the shooter would’ve came into the room, I probably wouldn’t be speaking with you right now.”

Emotional tributes were also paid by those who worked with and encountered Beigel as a counselor at Camp Starlight, a summer camp in Pennsylvania.

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Posted by Camp Starlight on Thursday, February 15, 2018

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Language arts teacher Melissa Falkowski, who hid 19 students in a closet, and coach Aaron Feis, a security guard who reportedly jumped in front of students to shield them, are also being hailed heroes. Feis died from his injuries.

“It is with Great sadness that our Football Family has learned about the death of Aaron Feis. He was our Assistant Football Coach and security guard. He selflessly shielded students from the shooter when he was shot. He died a hero and he will forever be in our hearts and memories.”

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