19-Year-Old’s Brave Act Saves a Couple — and Earns Many Unexpected Rewards

A 19-year-old saves a couple from a devastating car wreck, and now they’re calling him their “angel.” The young man hopes to save many more lives, and that’s why he’s getting a very special reward. He was gifted a scholarship to pursue his dream of becoming an EMT.

But that’s not the only reward he got—the mayor of his town in Westeco, Texas, gifted him an official proclamation of “Juan Mendoza Day"—an incredible honor.

Juan was driving on a rainy day with his girlfriend when he saw a car spinning out and stopping in the middle of the highway, its rear crumpled.

He made a split-second decision to jump out and help them.

"My first thought is that they could have kids, and I have little brothers," the teen said. "And that thought came into me, rushing, and I'm like, I'm going to get them out."

19-Year-Old Saves a Couple In Danger

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The people in the car were Juan and Adrianna O’Matta. They had been driving home from Juan’s doctor appointment when their car was struck. 

"Nobody stopped," Juan O’Matta said. "He was the only one who stopped."

"He was there at the right moment that we needed him, so that's why I say he was my angel," said Adriana. 

The couple wanted to thank the young man but never got his name. They reached out to CBS News to help, and journalist David Bengaud helped reunite them at the young Juan’s workplace, Texas Roadhouse.

Couple Has a Heartfelt Reunion with Their Teenage Rescuer

“I’m so happy,” said Adriana, hugging him. “I’m so proud of you… I wish there were a thousand yous.”

Juan came to help them at the perfect moment. Adrianna had passed out, and the car had started smoking. 

“If it were my grandparents, I would have done the same thing,” said Juan. 

“We love you forever,” Juan O’Matta told the teen.

A Double Dose of Rewards

David gave Juan a surprise—he brought a president from an EMS company to give Juan a scholarship to its National EMS Academy and a conditional job offer. Then, David brought in the mayor, Adrian Gonzalez. 

"We're always looking for people, good people, who want to help others," said Justin Back, president of Acadian Ambulance Service. "But that takes a big heart. It also takes a lot of intelligence and a lot of courage to do it, a lot of toughness, and that's a rare combination." 

"On behalf of myself… and the city of Westico… We're proclaiming Juan Mendoza Day… Thank you for everything that you did," the mayor told Mendoza. "Thank you for being their guardian angel.”

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Juan credits his parents for raising him to be a person who helps others. 

"They teach me to be humble and to help anybody," he said, and the O'Mattas "needed help."

Right now, Juan just has a couple more months of training before he graduates the EMS program.

It’s wonderful that Juan stopped what he was doing and ran to this couple’s aid. It’s also a blessing that so many people got together to recognize his efforts and encourage his future efforts. Juan is bound to have many more rescues ahead of him.

WATCH: 19-Year-Old’s Brave Act Saves a Couple — and Earns Many Unexpected Rewards

LISTEN: A 1929 Firefighter’s Rescue Still Connects Families Generations Later | 18-Year-Old Climber Survives a 260-Foot Fall Down a Mountain

h/t: CBN News

Featured Image Credit: YouTube/CBS Mornings

Michaela Gordoni is an avid reader and part-time globe-trotter. With a bachelor's degree in International Relations and experience in the non-profit world, she has a passion for people and reporting. You can check out her portfolio here.