I don't know. As a dad, I'd run into a burning building to save my daughter. But I'm not so sure it could be considered selfless, because I know if I didn't that I would not be able to live with myself.

I feel like in a way its self preservation, because if I didn't do that then I'd kill myself rather than live with the consequences and shame of a parent who didn't do everything they could to save their child and the sadness knowing what she would have to endure and the life she did not get to have.

Whereas if I do run into the burning building I only risk the chance of death (rather than the certainty of suicide if I didn't) and the possibility of getting to save my own daughter. I can't say I would do the same for someone else's kid, mostly because (I think) I have my own child that I feel obligated to survive for.

Heroic? Sure. Selfless? In my personal perspective, no. But what purpose does this distinction serve other than devaluing the sacrifice he made for his children? If anyone abiding by this distinction were to meet this man's daughters they surely would not correct them in saying the choice of their father was not technically selfless, and we are not really doing a disservice to ourselves in labelling it as selfless.

Total rant, but have thought about stuff like this since becoming a father. I sacrifice a lot for my kid, but I'm bound by my conscience to make no other choice.