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

Brave Employee Is Fired After He Stands Up to the Thieves Who Stole From His Store Outraged Strangers Have the Best Response
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Brave Employee Is Fired After He Stands Up to the Thieves Who Stole From His Store Outraged Strangers Have the Best Response

“Really, bro, you got to resort to this?"Those were a few of Santino Burrola's last words on social media before his life was ruined.Over 1.5 million people, including rapper Snoop Dogg, saw what he did. He'd lose his job, receive racist comments, fall behind on his bills and be separated from his family for what he did. A Crime in ProgressPhoto by Norma Mortenson“Me and the union rep sat down with them and they recommended termination,” recalled Santino Burrola to the New York Post. 'They' were supermarket King Soops, and they just fired him. Never mind that what he did brought a criminal to justice, with two at large. Yet, whenever he talks about it, Burrola says that his motivation is just.“Let me tell you something; if something is happening right in front of me, I’m gonna make it my business,” he said. And that's exactly what he did when he saw three men bolting through the King Soops parking lot. They had stolen over $500 worth detergent. At that moment, Burrola, a former military police officer, gave chase as they ran to load it into a black Chevy Trax. Shortly after, Burrola reached into his pocket and made his biggest mistake. A Grocery Store Worker Goes From Hero to ZeroFlipping out his phone, Burrola began recording the three thieves. “Really, bro, you got to resort to this? The economy isn’t that bad,” he can be heard saying.“Better gettin’ while the gettin’s good,” he joked to them as they loaded the car.The quick-thinking Burrola managed to yank a sheet of foil covering the license plate to get the number, leading to the driver's capture. If you think his brave act got him a thank you, you'd be wrong. Instead, after arriving at work the next day, Burrola learned that he'd been suspended. Then, just a week later, he was fired. As the video and news of his firing spread online, outrage bubbled."This is absolutely disgusting. We should be boycotting the retailer that fired him," fumed one. “Sorry to read you were fired recording these losers thinking they could just go in and steal. Good for you though," wrote one. Another one had an idea. "This guy was doing the right thing. Please someone give him a much better job. He deserves our thanks and to be rewarded. Our Vets deserve a leg up for their sacrifices."One warm reward, coming right up.A Community Rewards a Brave EmployeePhoto by Julia LarsonSomeone who agrees with that comment is Alexia Gomez. With the motivation to help her cousin, she started a GoFundMe to help cover his legal fees and lost wages.In the end, it was a huge success raising over $19,000, almost double its goal of $10,000. Now that's a lot of laundry detergent money.In a prepared statement, King Soops said firing Burrola is all about employee safety. "We are disappointed by the increased level of crime across retail establishments and the impact these incidents have on our associates and customers. We remain committed to working in partnership with local law enforcement to address this issue, as safety remains a top priority," it read. How a Supermarket Employee Proves That Inaction Is a CrimeTo be fair, it's hard to argue with a company trying to protect its workers. After all, if one of those criminals were armed, Gomez might be raising money for her cousin's funeral costs instead. Yet, Burrola would tell you that the biggest crime would be to sit idly by as criminals run wild. He knows that staying safe puts everyone at risk.It might not always be the safest play, but sometimes displaying courage is the right move. More from Goalcast:Homeless Dad Living in His Car With 2 Kids Is Fired From His Job – Then, Strangers Step in When They Hear His RequestBlack Employee Is Fired After He Stands Up to His Racist Boss – Outraged Co-workers Have the Best ResponseMan Saves a Life After He Notices a Person Recklessly Driving a Car – Instead of Being Rewarded, He Is Fired From His Job

Little Boys Notice Their Neighbors House Is on Fire - Rush to Rescue Toddlers Stuck Inside Despite Being Really Scared
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Little Boys Notice Their Neighbors House Is on Fire - Rush to Rescue Toddlers Stuck Inside Despite Being Really Scared

Two young heroes stepped up in a big way in Oakland, Florida when a fire roared nearby. 10-year-old Isiah Francis and 11-year-old Jeremiah Grimes were minding their business when they saw smoke rising up in their neighborhood. What Two Young Boys Did When They Saw a House on FireUnsplash/ Chris KaridisThey quickly noticed that their neighbor's home was on fire, and rushed inside without a second thought. Navigating through heavy smoke and impending panic, the two heroes safely retrieved a 1-year-old and an 8-month-old from the burning house. It is not as if the two were unafraid of the situation, but they had the remarkable courage to overcome their fear -- the true mark of bravery. "I was really scared because I thought I was going to get burned," Isiah even told a local news outlet in Orlando. "I was nervous because there was so much smoke it was hard for me to see," he added. Despite feeling scared, unable to see, and risking his own wellbeing, Isiah and his friend charged into that burning house to save two toddlers. Forget their age, many in that frightening position might have frozen, or called the appropriate authorities. The quick-thinking to charge directly into the home, however, very well could have made the difference between life and death for the two young children they retrieved. How Two Boys Proved That There Is No Age Limit to Being a HeroTheir selfless act of bravery reverberated throughout the community, becoming a beacon of hope and inspiration. News of their heroism spread, captivating the hearts of people across the country. These two are certainly destined to grow into brave young men. Isiah even said he has dreams of becoming a firefighter some day, and he certainly has more experience than most 11 year olds.The cause of the blaze has not been determined, but it is believed to have started on the stove. It is unclear why the father was unable to get all four of his children out of the home, or why the fire began. However, it is certain that Isiah and Jeremiah saved the day. While, hopefully we don't have to run into a burning home any time soon, we can all draw inspiration from the bravery displayed by these two boys. True heroism doesn't lie in accolades or recognition, but in the sum of decisions like these that come to define us.Isiah and Jeremiah's selfless act will forever serve as a reminder that each of us has the capacity to be a hero in our own unique way.Heroism also isn't reserved for a certain age group, and these two showed why everyone possesses the ability to become a hero in the right circumstance. More from Goalcast:Woman Leaves Her Newborn Baby Girl in a Drop Box – The Firefighter Who Found Her Just Became Her DadHomeless Man Heroically Saves an Entire Family and Their Pets From a Blazing Residential FireMom and Her 2 Kids Are Trapped in an Apartment Fire – One Local Homeless Man Tells Them All to Drop Out of the Window

Bus Driver Yanks Boys Backpack as He Is Getting off the Bus - Now Shes Hailed as a Hero
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Bus Driver Yanks Boys Backpack as He Is Getting off the Bus - Now Shes Hailed as a Hero

As parents, it can be hard to let others take care of your children. After all, no one ever really quite loves your kids and watches out for them the exact way you would. Still, we send them to school and trust that those who are tasked with watching them follow the safety rules and regulations in place — from the teachers to the administrative staff to the bus drivers.That’s why parents across America were shocked when they heard about this woman, who yanked a kid onto her bus one afternoon.A Quick-Thinking DriverApril Wise was going about her regular school bus driving routine in Tecumseh, Ohio, one day in February. A video, which was later posted to the district’s social media page, shows Wise slowing down for a stop. She opens the door and checks the mirrors. That’s when she notices something is wrong.There is a car approaching and it isn’t slowing down. A Grade 7 student is about to step off, so Wise grabs the boy’s backpack and pulls him back hard. Suddenly in the frame, you can see an SUV barreling by, right where the boy would have been."The only thing that went through my brain was to keep him from getting off the bus," Wise, who is a first-year bus driver, told WHIO-TV.“If he would have just got off the bus a little quicker or something, everything might have been different,” Karen Lokai, Tecumseh Schools' transportation supervisor, told an NBC news outlet. “It gives you chills to hear it and see the video and see how close, you know, things happen in such a split second.”Saving a Boy’s LifeOnce the way was clear and the boy exited the vehicle, Wise reported the incident to her bosses. They reviewed the video and couldn’t believe just how close the situation was. At home, the boy told his mother how the driver had saved his life.“The mom reached out to us personally to thank us and thank our team for responding to the accident [and] to thank the bus driver,” Superintendent Paula Crew told the publication. “She’s beyond [thankful that] her son got off the bus and came in the house when he did.”She added that cars often pass the school buses, ignoring the clear “stop” sign that applies to vehicles coming from both directions. Failing to stop could not only result in a $500 fine in that area, but worse: a child could get hurt.Clark County Sheriff’s Office Deputy John Loney says the boy was really lucky after this particular failure to stop. “It’s a miracle that he’s safe,” he said.A Local HeroFollowing the incident, Wise was hailed as a hero. People from the school, law enforcement, and parents gathered to say thank you in a special ceremony in which she was given an award.“This goes far beyond what I imagined to happen, so I am very emotional,” Wise told WCSC. “I don’t deserve it, but I’m glad it’s bringing awareness and stuff. Hopefully, more people will take it into consideration,” she added.“For what she did that day, we definitely appreciate it,” the boy’s father added to the publication.Drive ResponsiblyThis story so clearly demonstrates why it is important to follow traffic laws, and it also reminds us all to slow down behind the wheel — particularly in school zones and on neighborhood streets.Accidents take seconds to happen but can change a life forever. If it weren’t for Wise’s quick thinking, that boy could have been seriously injured or worse.When we’re running late or really excited to get home after a long day at work, it can be tempting to speed up, spend a few seconds less at a stop sign, or ignore a school bus’s signal. But it’s important to take a breath and slow down. Being a few minutes late won’t cost you much, if anything. And there are much worse things that can happen in life.More from Goalcast:Heroic Carnival-Goer Saves Lives After Magic Carpet Ride Spins Out Of Control

Heroic 3-Year-Old Son Trusts Instinct And Steps In After Mom Falls And Hits Her Head
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Heroic 3-Year-Old Son Trusts Instinct And Steps In After Mom Falls And Hits Her Head

Many people, even adults, cannot think logically under the pressure of a life-threatening emergency. One young toddler from the U.K., however, was able to keep calm and react accordingly when his mother slipped and fell down the stairs and hit her head, losing consciousness.Saved by the YouTubeThomas Boffey, a three-year old from West Midlands, U.K, was shaken up when his mother, 33-year old Kayleigh, fell down the stairs. The young boy was a regular viewer of the Korean children’s program Robocar Poli on Youtube. The animated kid’s show from South Korea features a police car, ambulance, and fire engine. Thanks to this show, Boffey knew right away to call 999 (the UK equivalent of 911)."He climbed up onto my windowsill in the living room to get my phone and he managed to [phone] the operator, they couldn't understand what he was on about but directed him to the police." - Kayleigh BoffeyAn amazing featThomas’ amazing actions were more than just calling 999. He stayed on the phone with 999 operators through the ordeal, as they instructed him to keep hold of his mother’s hand and continue talking to her, keeping her conscious. Also, he climbed over the home’s baby gate, searched for a key to their house, and unlocked the door for emergency services. Once they arrived, Kayleigh was brought to hospital, where it was found that she sustained injuries to her knee, ankle, shouler, and hip injuries. Once it was determined that she was safe, Kayleigh couldn’t help but feel overwhelming pride for her young son. "I knocked myself out and he managed to ring for help—it was amazing really, words [can't] describe it. I'm extremely proud of him." - Kayleigh BoffeyLessons for children everywhereThomas’ knowledge very well could have saved his mother’s life. A representative of Nemours Children's Health explained that while what Thomas did was amazing, children should always be taught not only how to get in touch with emergency services, but also develop a good understanding of what constitutes an emergency. Their guidelines read: “Teach kids that a 911 emergency is when someone needs help right away because of an injury or an immediate danger." Thomas’ story is both an act of bravery and a great lesson for parents. More uplifting stories:Man Goes From Janitor To Principal Of The School He Cleaned For 27 YearsStudent Raises $28,600 For Homeless Man Who Offered To Pay Her Taxi HomeMillionaire Shocks Neighbors By Inviting Homeless Couple To Live In His $4M HouseVideo Of How Poor Street Vendor Treats Stray Dogs Goes Viral For All The Right ReasonsRaise a heroBeing a great parent means empowering your child.

Man Defends Couple Who Got Viciously Body-Shamed By Rude Plane Passenger
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Man Defends Couple Who Got Viciously Body-Shamed By Rude Plane Passenger

One rude plane passenger found out the hard way that cruel fat-shaming wouldn't get off the ground during her flight. Beyond rudeIt's no secret that traveling can be less than pleasant. Between delays, layovers, flavorless food and cramped quarters, it's often a test of will. Though we mostly manage to keep things civil, at times it gets unacceptably ugly. One United Airlines flight from Las Vegas to Newark was an example of it. The events were captured by passenger Norma Rogers, a nurse who once appeared on the 'Dr Oz' show. It showed a blond woman sitting in the middle seat who's visibly uncomfortable and isn't shy to express it as she talks on her cellphone. Her ire is directed at the passengers sitting next to her. I don't know how I'm going to do this for the next four hours. This is just impossible, 'cause they're squishing me- Passenger on plane"I can't breathe I'm so squished," she said, adding, "At least they'll keep me warm."A flight attendant came over and asked the disgruntled woman if she wanted a new seat, which she accepted. Apparently that wasn't good enough, as while moving seats, she had some parting words for the couple. "I eat salad. OK?" she said. Rogers couldn't believe her ears. “She was verbally abusive. What made her think it was OK to body-shame two people?” Rodgers said.They wouldn't stand for itThat was enough for the passengers on the plane, as they started yelling at the woman. Among them was Jonathan Fernandez, , star of VH1 reality show 'Love and Hip-Hop in New York'."At that point, I was appalled and I felt angry," he told Inside Edition. "There's so many ways of going about that and I just hated that noone was saying anything.""You're disgusting," he said to the woman, "You're disgusting."The woman replied, “Why don't you sit in between those two big pigs?”It turns out that the passengers weren't the only ones who'd had enough. The flight attendants stepped in and removed the woman from the flight. We're people before passengersRogers later said that she's pleased with the way United Airlines handled the situation, saying the flight attendants were calm, collected and professional, and helped keep things from escalating further.In life, we all bring aboard our own set of baggage and have our own travel plans but in the end, we're all going to the same place. So, while there might be some turbulence and squished seats along the way, let's try to be kinder to each other during our flights together. More uplifting stories:White Woman Pretends To Be Black Man’s Wife To Expose Realtor’s DiscriminationPoor Man Who Missed Job Interview To Save A Life Had Employers Lining Up To Hire HimCompassionate Boss Helps Employee Who’s Sleeping On Job Turn Life AroundBrooklyn Landlord Cancels Rent For Hundreds Of Tenants, Setting An Unprecedented Example For Others

Active Shooter Opens Fire Into Crowd, Man Acts On Instinct And Shields Girlfriend To Save Her Life
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Active Shooter Opens Fire Into Crowd, Man Acts On Instinct And Shields Girlfriend To Save Her Life

It was a hellish 32 seconds that the residents in Dayton Ohio will never forget. 24-year-old Connor Betts opened fire into the crowded Oregon District with an AR-15-style assault rifle, killing 9 and wounding 27 more. In the mix was Camryn Crowder and his girlfriend Brittany Dungey. They became new parents just three weeks prior, and it was their first night out since the birth of their baby. They were walking down the street when shots rang out. Recalling the carnage, Crowder told CBS news that he feared the worst. "I saw people getting hit. I literally saw them fall…" Crowder said. "I was certain that I was going to be next in line, really, at some point," he said. I was pretty nervous. I mean, I thought for sure that it was gonna be my last day really being alive- Camryn CrowderHe sacrificed himself for her With bullets flying by and bodies falling, Crowder had only one thing on his mind: Protecting his girlfriend and mother of his child. "It was really about me getting her out of the way," he said. "Making sure that she was safe." Footage captured Crowder quickly taking Dungey to the floor, staying atop her to shield her from the gunfire as he moved them to cover. Speaking with Inside Edition, Dungey says that she too was certain their time was up. "In that moment i thought that we were going to die. I fell down so fast, I thought I got shot," she recalled. Fortunately for the couple, both came out alive. "I mean, I was just one of the lucky ones," said Crowder. Love is sacrificeYou don't have to remind Dungey of how lucky she is to have her boyfriend. He's the best boyfriend in the world. He's the absolute best, and has a big heart and now everyone can finally see that.- Brittany DungeyMost of us aren't trained for how to react and protect our loved ones during a mass shooting. It's often pure luck, and the victims of that awful day will never be forgotten. In those times, the only chance of survival is often pure luck or pure instinct. Some of those instincts are forged through the bonds built and love shared with them. Faced with a nightmare threat, Camryn Crowder drew on his instinctual love for his girlfriend and narrowly escaped to share their story.More uplifting stories:Woman Marries Man Who Saved Her Life At The Vegas Mass ShootingPregnant Woman Wakes Up From Coronavirus Coma To Discover She Had Delivered Her BabyMan Writes Touching Note To Hospital Staff Who Saved His Wife’s LifeDomestic Abuse Survivor Marries The First Responder Who Saved Her Life

Landlord Shocks Long-Time Tenant With $2,500 Check - For The Best Reason
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Landlord Shocks Long-Time Tenant With $2,500 Check - For The Best Reason

Across the US and in many wealthy countries including Canada and New Zealand, real estate prices have skyrocketed during the pandemic. And while high prices have prohibited many from buying a home, those who've sold during this period have often raked in double or triple what they paid, even if they'd owned for just five to 10 years.But while many walk away with heaps of cash, profiting off a system that leaves some rich and others struggling or houseless, one landlord decided to buck the trend.Landlord sends check as a 'share' after home sale In a Facebook post, Chris Robarge wrote that his old landlord contacted him out of the blue to get his new address. He was confused as to why the landlord from a place he stayed at after his divorce would send him something, until he opened the letter.In it, there was a check for $2,500 and a note that explained what the money was for."I recently sold the house and the rent you paid each month contributed to paying off the mortgage," the letter said. "I firmly believe the capitalist tradition of retaining money after the sale of a property is exploitative and antithetical to society. I wanted to return to you the portion of the rent you paid."The note further explained how the kind landlord calculated his expenses and reached the sum for each tenant. "While the mortgage principal, especially in the first years of a mortgage, is a small fraction of those overall expenses, I wanted to return to you the portion of the rent you paid," the landlord wrote.It was a great house and I'm glad that I was able to share it with you. Paying it forwardThe gesture left Robarge in shock."I have been sitting with this for more than a day and I am still completely beyond an actual way to describe what this act means to me," he wrote on Facebook. Since receiving the letter, he decided he's not going to keep the money, but instead will pass it on to various organizations including Black and Pink Massachusetts, Worcester Free Fridge, OurStory Edutainment and to people in the street who need it."All that I can say is that there are people who talk about their values and there are people who actually live them, and the reason I wanted to share this is that I want to encourage us all to actually live our values. Do it off the clock, do it when no one is watching, do it always."If you can't do what my former landlord did, let this inspire you to give whatever you can spare to someone or someplace that needs it.Chris RobargeDo something differentThe commodification of housing is a train that's long left the station and seemingly impossible to stop or even slow down. Sure, rising prices allow many to save for retirement, but others are left without a house to call their own.However, this homeowner decided to say to hell with all that and offer some support to renters. Yes, what he gave isn't much, but it was a meaningful gesture and seems to have started a pay it forward chain that will keep going and going. Hopefully, other landlords will take note.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