Firefighter Lays On Ground With Terrified Little Boy After Car Accident
November 04, 2015

Casey Lessard considers himself just an average guy. He’s completely dedicated to his job as a firefighter. It takes up the vast majority of his time, and he doesn’t mind a bit. And to us, that’s what makes Casey more than “just average.” Helping others is what’s most important to him. And now, he’s getting worldwide attention for that big heart of his -- attention this humble guy just shrugs off.
So why is Casey suddenly being thrust into the limelight? It’s all because of his beautiful act of compassion at the scene of a car crash -- the pictures from which have gone viral. And while it’s a photo of Casey that is going viral, there are many unsung heroes from that day.
Responding To Car Accident
It all started when a vehicle containing Vanessa and her 5 children went of the road and rolled several times. Two of the children were in car seats, and were kept safe. Everyone else was thrown from the vehicle.
Good Samaritans, including two sisters and retired firefighter, Rick Camarena, stopped and offered aid until Casey and his fellow firefighters arrived. The team stabilized the most seriously injured first, and then Casey turned his attention to preschool aged Gabriel.
Gabriel was placed on a backboard and would be the last to be put in an ambulance. He was in pain, terrified and sick with worry over his injured family members. And that’s when Casey’s big heart took over.
Firefighter Shows Compassion
Casey asked to borrow Rick’s cell phone (his own phone was inaccessible). He got onto the ground and lay next to the frightened little boy. He used the cell phone to pull up clips from the children’s movie, Happy Feet, on Netflix and played it for Gabriel, in order to “take the bad out of the situation."
"He went from crying to instantly calm," fire captain Darren Peterson told the Sun Herald.
The clips were short, so Casey spent the time that the video wasn’t playing to just talk to Gabriel, to keep him calm and distracted from the chaos around them.
The photos of the touching scene have gone viral and Casey is being hailed as a hero. Something that surprises the sweet young man. He says he was just doing his job. He says,
“When on a scene, it doesn’t matter who they are. You help them.”
But there’s no doubt that when little Gabriel thinks back to the horrible accident, he’ll always remember the special angel that showed him such tenderness.
The Aftermath
The two sisters who had stopped at the scene were kind enough to set up a GoFundMe page for the family, who is still healing. According to updates posted on the GoFundMe page, the two youngest children pulled from the car were unharmed. Gabriel was taken to the hospital, stitched up, and was released.
Please continue to pray for mom, Vanessa, and the two other children, TJ and Avianna, as they are still in the hospital healing. Vanessa broke several bones, including her spine, but had an operation and has even taken her first steps, praise God. Avianna and TJ are improving, though still have a long way to go.
As for Casey, the shy and humble guy is still stunned by how much attention the story has gotten, even as far as Australia, Germany and Denmark. However, he is grateful that the story has helped shine a light on the noble work and compassion of first responders. He says,
“We’re not so cold that we don’t see people how they really are. We’re average people, too. We have feelings.”
God bless the brave men and women who join this line of work to help others. Keep them safe, as they put their lives in danger in order to save those in need.
h/t: Hattiesburg American / Sunny Skyz
Featured Image Credit: Facebook
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Kind Hearted Police Officer Rocks Frightened Baby After Car Accident
Today's Devotional
A Prayer to Forgive Our Fathers - Your Daily Prayer - June 12
Find the healing your heart has been searching for—by letting go and letting God be the Father you need.
Today's Devotional
A Prayer to Forgive Our Fathers - Your Daily Prayer - June 12
Find the healing your heart has been searching for—by letting go and letting God be the Father you need.
Past Stories
- 4-Year-Old Called a Hero After Teacher Collapses at Daycare, and She Knows Exactly What to Do
- After 100-Mile Journey, Including a Swim, Missing Golden Retriever Mix is Finally Back Home
- Life Delayed Her Dream, But Didn’t Deny it. At 88, She Became a Graduate, and Witness to God’s Timing
- Gary Sinise Opens Up About His Son’s Death and the Gift of Grandfatherhood
- Young Girl is Saved by Good Samaritan After Falling 15 Feet Into a Waterfall
- Retired Alaska State Trooper Helps Rescue Husband Pinned by 700-lb Boulder
- 9 Year Old Boy Saves Mom and Newborn Sister By Calling 911, 'My Mom Could Have Died'
- Police Escort Paralyzed Teen to Prom Years After Childhood Shooting
- Young Boy in Wheelchair Walks at His Kindergarten Graduation, Surprising His Family
- Woman Credits Her Faith After Tire Flies Through SUV Windshield in Near-Death Crash
- 98-Year-Old Twins Cherish Life, Love, and Faith While Living Next Door to One Another
- Airman Served in WW2, Now He is Finally Coming Home 81 Years After He Died
- Teens Are Heroes After Saving Family From Fire On Their Prom Night
- She Survived 3 Weeks Lost in the Wild, Fighting Off Animals and Snowstorms
- Triplets Graduate From Texas Tech Together, All Earning Degrees in Media and Communication
- She Lost Her Son's Baby Book, But It Was Returned to Her at the Right Moment
- Man and His Dog Reunited After Being Hit by Drunk Driver
- Nurse With Caring Spirit Says Yes to Dying Mother's Wish For Her Son, and It's Beautiful
- She Never Told Her Friends She Was the School Mascot, Then Shares Her Secret at Graduation
- Mom Donates Kidney to Daughter, Now They’re Graduating Nursing School Together
- Grieving Son Finds Kindness When Trying to Print a Photo of His Mother Who Just Passed Away
- Nebraska Mom Raised Concerns About Husband's Mental Health Before Tragic Murder-Suicide
- Brothers Discover 1976 Message in a Bottle, Then Find the Man Who Wrote It
- California High School Discovers They Have 14 Sets of Twins in Their Graduating Class
- Paralyzed Pup Tyrion Finds New Life With a Doggie Wheelchair
- Autistic 8-Year-Old Boy Goes Missing, Found by Water Thanks to Quick Response
- Two Nurses Come to the Rescue of a Teen Girl in the Process of Being Kidnapped
- Brave Man Jumps Into Water to Save Woman After She Was Attacked By Bull Shark
- She Was Going to Miss Prom After Breaking Her Back at a Trampoline Park, the Hospital Had Other Plans
- Mom Finds Hope After Tragedy, Hears Her Daughter’s Heartbeat in a Child Who Got a Second Chance
- 90-Year-Old Cancer Survivor Has Saved Over 10,000 Animals, and She’s Still Not Slowing Down
- First Responders Rescue 9-Month-Old From House Fire By Going Through Window
- Playful Black Bear Climbs Playground and Rides the Slide, Just Like a Kid
- Singer Michael Bolton Opens Up About His Aggressive Brain Cancer Diagnosis
- Brave 5-Year-Old Climbs 35 Feet Up a Tree, Firefighters Rush to the Rescue
- Woman Finds Her Father After Almost 28 Years — And Learns the Truth About Why He Left
- Woman Saves Her Late Son’s Best Friend’s Mom With a Life-Changing Donation
- An Indie Bookstore Asked for Help, What Happened Next Will Warm Your Heart
- From Teen Sweethearts to 80 Years of Marriage: ‘God Was So Good to Give Him to Me’
- WWII Veteran Celebrates His 101st Birthday and 75 Years of Marriage to His Loving Wife
- 88-Year-Old Korean War Veteran and Great-Grandfather Graduates From College
- One Year After Losing Boys in a Fire, Parents Find Light in the Form of a Beautiful Blessing
- They Dress Up As Disney Princesses to Bring Joy and Hope to Sick Children, and it's Amazing
- This Couple Parents Triplets and Foster Sons from Wheelchairs, and It’ll Leave You Inspired
- Two-Year-Old is Found By Rancher's Dog After Walking 7 Miles From Home
- Couple Reunites 15-Year-Old Blind Dog With Owners After Finding Her in the Wilderness
- He Saved Her Life in a Pool Accident Five Years Ago, Now They Are Engaged
- Actress Chrissy Metz Left Hollywood For Nashville and She Couldn't Be Happier
- Stranger Helps 81-Year-Old Waitress Who Couldn't Afford to Retire, Now Her Prayers Have Been Answered
- 49-Year-Old Melanie Barratt Becomes First Blind Woman to Swim the English Channel
Top Artists
Top Music Videos

Anne Wilson Anne Wilson Wows With 'God and Country' Live Performance

Oak Ridge Boys 'Jesus Is Coming Soon' The Oak Ridge Boys

toby mac TobyMac's 'Nothin' Sweeter' Official Lyric Video

Jeremy Camp Jeremy Camp's Awe-Inspiring 'No Survivors' Live Performance

Passion Music Passion's Soul-Stirring 'Agnus Dei' Live Performance
Blog
At GodTube, you’ll find daily inspirational videos to lift your spirits and encourage you in your walk with God. Popular videos include worship music from your favorite Christian artists, cute videos with adorable kids and animals, hilarious videos from Christian comedians, user-uploaded videos, and clean viral videos to brighten your day.