A Connecticut teen spotted an SUV on fire as he was walking along the street on Wednesday. People are praising his heroic deed after saving a mom and her three children that could have cost his life.
The Waterbury Police Department said that Justin Gavin was walking along a local street when he saw the car that was on fire. The teen explained to CNN that he started yelling at the driver to stop the car as it was on fire.
A woman with three kids trapped inside a burning car
The department had received many calls about a burning vehicle with a trapped woman during that time. Since there were no officers on the scene, Gavin ran to the car to help the woman open the door so that she could escape the fire.
Gavin explained to the outlet that he would want somebody to help him if he was in that same situation. His instincts took over so he headed to the burning car without thinking about his safety.
See also: Florida 911 Dispatcher Revives Baby and 71-Year-Old Man That Stopped Breathing
After he was able to let the woman out of the car, Gavin saw that there were still three children trapped inside. He was alarmed because he saw that the car was quickly being enveloped in flames.
In a video on the department's Facebook page, Captain Michael DaSilva explained what the teen did. He said that Gavin pulled all three of the children from the car even as the flames grew larger. He also said that the teen also managed to save a one-year-old baby that was securely attached in a car seat.
The 18-year-old teen was able to save a woman and her three kids, ages one, four, and nine before the fire burned the car. He told CNN that he got scared because he did not know whether he was going to save them all in time.
See also: Little Girl Saves Distressed Swan That Was Trapped [She Wants to Be a Veterinarian]
Teen receives "Challenge Coin" as a reward
Police Chief Fernando Spagnolo presented a "Challenge Coin" to Gavin to honor his heroic deed later that day. Usually, that coin is given to officers who showed an act of bravery. Spagnolo told Gavin that one of the things he recognizes is people's heroic feats or excellent work.
He explained that the coin was a token of his appreciation to the teen for being a great member of their community. The Police Chief is hoping that the coin would remind the teen of the day he saved lives selflessly.
See also: Louisiana Nurses Stayed in NICU Even After Hurricane Laura Hit to Care for 19 Babies
He is hoping that in the future, Gavin could reflect on all the good things he did that day. Spagnolo told the teen that he could look back at any time at this great moment in his life.
Gavin told CNN that he learned one powerful lesson from the experience. He said that it made him realize that life is short.
