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Semi-truck Driver Dangles From Bridge - Hero Firefighter Immediately Springs Into Action
Uplifting News

Semi-truck Driver Dangles From Bridge - Hero Firefighter Immediately Springs Into Action

First responders are trained to help in all kinds of emergency situations, but that doesn’t mean they necessarily see all of those situations on the field. So when something scary and larger than life actually happens, they have to rely on their training and experience to potentially save a life.Thankfully, one firefighter did exactly that when he responded to a wild emergency situation one day above the Ohio River.A Harrowing AccidentEarlier this month, a semi-truck driver was heading over the George Rogers Clark Memorial Bridge on the Ohio River when another vehicle crossed into the wrong lane. The car struck the semi, which swerved through the guardrail and over the side. The driver got stuck in the cab, which was dangling from the bridge.When firefighters responded to the scene, they immediately sprang into action. According to the Louisville Fire Department's chief, Brian O’Neill, the driver was incredibly lucky not to wind up in the water.“If you look at the way that that semi-truck threaded the needle of those bridge stanchions, but then ended up getting wedged in there and not plowing through and ending up in the water is tremendously lucky,” he told GMA.“She was you know, scared,” firefighter Bryce Carden added about the driver.A Heroic RescueTo save the unnamed driver, Carden had to rappel down the side of the bridge. He then hooked the woman into his harness and slowly hoisted her back up. The entire operation took about 40 minutes, which must have been terrifying for that driver.“Finally, when she realized she was safe and she was going to live, she was overcome with emotions as anybody would be,” Carden said.The woman was understandably shaken and wanted to heal in private, which is why authorities didn’t release her name. Two other people involved in the crash were seriously injured, but it appears as though this driver will be okay.As for Carden, people are hailing him as a hero.“I’ve played a very small piece in a large puzzle,” Carden said. “I contribute all of the success of it to the guys topside and the guys on the bottom who helped make it happen.”Thanking a First ResponderStories like these remind us that emergency responders face all kinds of circumstances and situations, and they’re willing to risk their own lives to help ours. Sure, this story made headlines because it’s not every day that you see a truck dangling from a bridge or a firefighter rappelling to save someone.However, there are plenty of everyday situations in which first responders put themselves in harm’s way to help someone else. This story is just a nice reminder for us to thank them for their service. That can be a simple “Thanks for your service” when you come across an ambulance driver, firefighter, or police officer in your daily life. It can also be a handwritten card or note.Either way, these men and women work to keep our communities safe, and gratitude always goes a long way. More from Goalcast:Firefighter Tragically Kills Pastor’s Pregnant Wife – Instead of Getting Revenge, the Widower Befriends HimFirefighter Delivers Baby Then Learns Her Mom Can’t Keep Her – So He Adopts Her and Gives Her a HomeYoung Boy Runs His Bike Into a Car and Dents It by Accident — The Driver Gets Out and Does the Unthinkable

Uber Driver Trusts Her Instincts And Narrowly Escapes Kidnapper By Jumping Out Of Car
Uplifting News

Uber Driver Trusts Her Instincts And Narrowly Escapes Kidnapper By Jumping Out Of Car

According to celebrity adventurer Bear Grylls, "Your best chance of thwarting an abduction attempt is in the first few seconds." Fortunately, an Uber driver in Tennessee knew that in her gut and managed to escape a violent kidnapping.A split-second decisionLast May, Uber driver Carolina Vargus accepted a long-haul Uber trip from 51-year-old Christopher Miller to drive him from Nashville to Cleveland, Tennessee.Days later, she accepted another long-haul trip from the same customer to go the other direction – but during the ride back, Miller pulled out a knife and held it to Vargus' throat.“He asked me for my cell phone, then he put the knife on my throat. I grabbed the phone. I had to unplug it because I had it charging," Vargus told WDEF.Then, she made a split-second decision that saved her own life."That’s when I jumped out of the car at that second,” she said.No regretsVargus tumbled out of the car and was seriously injured.“I was in the middle of the highway. I broke three teeth, I hurt myself all over my body. A tire drove over my left leg. My legs are super swollen, I feel like a ball of fire on my leg,” Vargus said in a gut-wrenching video posted by the local news station.Despite her injuries, Vargus has no regrets.“It was so scary. It happened to me. Just listen to yourself, if you do not feel safe in a situation or place, take action," she said."Don’t wait, one second can really really save your life,”Carolina VargusAs for the attacker, he was arrested and charged with kidnapping an adult, possession of a weapon, and hijacking a motor vehicle.Take actionExperts confirm that Vargus is right. The first seconds of an abduction could really be the difference between life and death, because if the kidnapper takes you away authorities may not be able to track you down.Take this as a reminder to take action and follow your gut — even if a literal knife isn't at your throat it might be how you'll save your own life. More uplifting news:Father Adopts ‘Feral Child’ Who Was Locked In Tiny Room For The First 6 Years of Her LifePolice Officer Adopts Abused Toddler After Rescuing Her From Unsafe HomeCashier Trusts Her Instincts And Rescues Woman From Kidnappers Who Assaulted HerBrooklyn Landlord Cancels Rent For Hundreds Of Tenants, Setting An Unprecedented Example For Others.

Disney World Staffer's Gut Reaction Saves Endangered Woman From Abusive Partner
Uplifting News

Disney World Staffer's Gut Reaction Saves Endangered Woman From Abusive Partner

A Walt Disney World employee deserves serious credit for sensing that a woman who was calling to book tickets was really in danger.Not a typical phone callWhen a Disney World call center received a call from Pennsylvania about booking a stay at the Florida resort, the operator realized the caller needed more than tickets.According to an affidavit from the York County Magisterial District court reported by CNN, the woman on the phone shouted "get off me" and "get away from me."The Disney employee then "became concerned and sensed something was off" and their fears only grew when the woman's responses started to become limited to "yes" and "no."When the operator asked the woman if she needed help from the police and if someone was hurting her, the woman responded "yes" to both questions.The operator proceeded to call the police who arrived at the scene to arrest the woman's partner, 38-year-old Wayne Shiflett for domestic abuse.The Disney employee's instincts were rightAccording to the affadavit, the couple had been arguing about the man's job and Shiflett proceeded to say: "you need to learn to keep your f**king mouth shut," and "I'll f**king kill you." He also called her a "spoiled f**king bitch." Then, he choked her three times to the point that she couldn't breathe and felt like she was going to die, CNN reports.Police reported visible signs of abuse on the woman, including scratches on her face and marks on her neck, Fox 43 reported.Shiflett was taken into custody and charged with simple assault, along with making terroristic threats, harassment and one count of strangulation.The power of helping othersThis Disney operator, whoever they are, certainly deserves credit for this act of heroism, joining a select group of recent heroes like the locksmith that helped a woman escape a violent kidnapper and the waitress that saved an abused boy. They all provide an excellent lesson that if you have your wits about you and react, you can save someone's life.More uplifting stories:4 Years Ago, He Was Homeless–Today, He Bought His First HousePoor Man Who Missed Job Interview To Save A Life Had Employers Lining Up To Hire HimDomestic Abuse Survivor Marries The First Responder Who Saved Her LifeBrooklyn Landlord Cancels Rent For Hundreds Of Tenants, Setting An Unprecedented Example For Others

Brave 4-Year-Old Saves Brother From Drowning, Gets Offered Job At Fire Department
Everyday Heroes

Brave 4-Year-Old Saves Brother From Drowning, Gets Offered Job At Fire Department

Heroes come in all shapes and sizes. Take Mason Ochoa, for instance. He jumped to the rescue and saved his two-year-old brother Nicholas from drowning in the family pool – and he's only four. Ochoa earned himself a challenge coin from the local fire department and lifelong gratitude from his brother.Toddler to the rescueWhen Mason heard an alarm sound from the pool, he scurried his tiny feet into action. It was October 20 and his younger brother, Nicholas, had fallen into the family pool in Orange County, California.Mason grabbed his brother and kept his head above water. Then, he followed his instincts yet again and called for help. Mason's mother Stephanie managed to pull the boys to safety, but Nicholas wasn't breathing. So her husband Jose called 911."My wife told me right now that my son fell in the pool and he wasn’t breathing, that he’s crying right now, but that his face is purple and he’s -- she can’t talk right now I’m on my way to them," Jose said in the recording, according to NBC Los Angeles.Moments later, Nicholas became responsive again and didn't appear to be hurt. His brother had saved his life.Mason's grandfather, Raul Velez, said there's usually a fence around the pool, but it was taken down when the house sold.“It’s an example for people with little kids. We have to be very careful,” Velez told CBS Los Angeles.“He’s only 4 years old. He’s my hero.”Raul VelezHonored by the fire department Members of the Placentia Fire Department honored the young hero by giving him the run of the facility. Mason was able to try holding a hose line, check out rescue tools and got to play with a roll of bandages, all while dressed in a firefighter's uniform. "Individuals in this profession gravitate to this calling because they have a need to act," Placentia Fire Department Chief John Van Gieson said, according to NBC.Afterward, Gieson presented Mason and Nicholas with challenge coins and said the young hero has a job waiting for him in about 14 years when he turns 18.A hero in all of usYou don't learn how to be a hero at school. We are born with instincts and can either listen to them and take action to help others – whether it's our younger brother or a complete stranger – or ignore them.How will you follow your inner hero today?More uplifting stories:4 Years Ago, He Was Homeless–Today, He Bought His First HousePoor Man Who Missed Job Interview To Save A Life Had Employers Lining Up To Hire HimDomestic Abuse Survivor Marries The First Responder Who Saved Her LifeBrooklyn Landlord Cancels Rent For Hundreds Of Tenants, Setting An Unprecedented Example For Others

People Who Achieve Their Dreams All Share This One Trait, According to Billionaire Sara Blakely
Entrepreneurs

People Who Achieve Their Dreams All Share This One Trait, According to Billionaire Sara Blakely

Apple. Netflix. Google. They all started with an idea and a single step.The underwear brand, Spanx, founded by Sara Blakely, was born the same way. Today, it's a billion-dollar company and Blakely is worth $610 million, according to Forbes. How? Blakely just shared her secrets in a motivational Instagram post.She didn't take 'no' for an answerWhen Blakely started Spanx, it was 1998 and she had just $5,000 in her pocket thanks to a gig selling fax machines door-to-door (oh, how times have changed!), according to Forbes. She had no experience in design, business or manufacturing, and when she tried to pitch her product she had the door slammed in her face.She finally landed her first major retail buyer, Neiman Marcus. But during the pitch meeting, she was getting the impression that this would be another 'no.' So she decided to change course. “In the middle of my meeting with [the Neiman Marcus rep], I could tell I was losing her," Blakely recounted to Guy Raz during an episode of the podcast “How I Built This” in 2016. So she interrupted the meeting and asked the rep to join her in the restroom."And I just knew it was my one shot. So I said, ‘Will you come with me to the bathroom?’ And she just paused. She goes, ‘Excuse me?’ I go, ‘I know, I know, it’s little weird. Will you just please come with me to the bathroom? I want to show you my own product before and after.'"Blakely went into the stall, put Spanx on underneath her clothes and came out. The rep looked at her and said:"Wow, I get it. It’s brilliant.”Neiman Marcus rep told Blakely in a bathroom during Spanx pitch meetingThe buyer accepted the pitch and Spanx is now a billion-dollar brand.How to achieve your dreamsNowadays, Blakely is an inspirational example of how a simple idea – a revolutionary take on women's underwear – can balloon into something great. And she continues to take time out of her busy schedule to share what she's learned.In an Instagram post, she revealed her ultimate recipe for success.“The difference between people who achieve their dreams and those who don’t is simple... It’s about action."Sara Blakely “Two decades ago, I was just a girl with a crappy day job and a crazy idea," she continued. "I didn’t have a ton of money, experience or knowledge of the industry. But I decided to go for it.”Blakely could have sat and waited and wished that, eventually, someone would listen to her idea. But life doesn't work like that. "But instead, I started doing and one day became day one, 20 years ago. And that's what made all the difference."Sara BlakelyIt starts with that first stepGolden tickets might pop up in the world of Willy Wonka, but aside from winning the lottery or being born into wealth, fame and fortune don't just fall on you in real life. If you want to make your dream a reality you have to, as Blakely says, take action. But when do you take action? When you feel ready? When you're older? When [insert opportunity] happens? No, it happens as soon as you stop letting your fears get in the way and go for it. When that is exactly is totally up to you."So what’s it gonna be? Day one...or one day?"Sara Blakely More inspiring celebrities:Why We Need To Talk About Keanu Reeves’ Girlfriend Alexandra GrantWhat Finally Convinced Jennifer Lopez That She Needed A Divorce From Marc AnthonyWhy Shakira and Gerard Piqué Are Proud To Be An Unconventional CoupleHow Hailey Baldwin Dealt With Being In A Love Triangle Involving Selena Gomez