In the novel The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton, Johnny Cade dies as a result of injuries sustained while saving children from a burning church. Johnny and his friend Ponyboy Curtis had been hiding in the church after Johnny killed a Soc named Bob Sheldon in self-defense. When the church catches fire, Johnny and Ponyboy rush in to save the children trapped inside.
During the rescue, a burning beam falls on Johnny, severely injuring him. He is rushed to the hospital, but the injuries are too severe, and he succumbs to them. Before he dies, Johnny tells Ponyboy to “stay gold,” a reference to a Robert Frost poem they had discussed earlier, encouraging Ponyboy to remain innocent and true to himself despite the harsh realities of life.
Johnny’s death is a pivotal moment in the novel, deeply affecting the other characters and driving the story’s themes of loyalty, friendship, and the loss of innocence.