Man Reunites With the Woman He Saved From a Burning Car After a Crash

A retired schoolteacher had been driving home from a camping trip when she fell asleep at the wheel. Her car veered off the road, flipped sideways, and caught on fire. But 23-year-old Nathan Felix was driving by and rushed to the rescue—now they’re meeting again for the first time.

Crash Victim Forever Grateful to Hero Nathan Felix

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"I wouldn't be here had it not been for Nathan [Felix]," said the crash victim, 69-year-old Mary Frances McLoryd.

"I remember trying to protect myself, like just putting my hands and my arms up and turning my body to the right side because that's where the heat was coming from," Mary recalled. "There's no way I was getting out of that car."

He Heard Her Screaming

Felix recalled hearing Mary screaming—which made him think of his own mother and aunts—and ran to the car. “I'm just ... hearing her in there panicking, so I'm trying to do whatever I can to possibly assist her,” he said.

Mary’s vehicle had a safety system that recognized she was in an accident and contacted 911. “I remember someone saying—and it was a male’s voice—‘Get her out!’ I mean, with such force that it seemed like, a split second, I was out of that car,” Mary said.

An officer was already there, who handed Nathan a fire extinguisher. Felix quickly employed it. Another officer used a device to break the sunroof, and Nathan quickly pulled her out with little effort. "Once we got her out, she was like, screaming and everything. I was like, 'Thank you, God.' That's all I was saying in my head -- 'Thank you, God,'" Nathan remembered.

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Victim Has a Long Recovery, But She’s Grateful to Be ‘Here’

Mary was under heavy sedation for two weeks, had burns over 20% of her body, and required several skin grafts. She spent 41 days in the hospital and still wears bandages on most of her fingers. She’s grateful for her daughter, Rashida, who has been taking care of her.

“I had second, third and fourth degree burns to different parts of my body, back right shoulder, my elbow and upper right arm…but I’m here,” she emphasized, “and it’s not insurmountable.”

The Pair Reunites, Bound to Be Lifelong Friends

Nathan visited Mary at her home and brought her a potted Orchid. He gave her a hug and said, “This is crazy.”

“It is crazy,” Mary agreed. “You just happened to be coming by that morning…perfect timing…Thank you so much, Nathan.”

Nathan Felix is Like a Nephew

Mary says she considers Nathan like a nephew.

"It was overwhelming what this young man did," she said. "What young person runs up to a vehicle that is now caught on fire and still tries to get somebody out of it? I can't thank Nathan enough.I don't even have words to thank him. I don't know how to thank him. Other than to say, if you ever need me, I'm always here in your life."

What a sweet story of reunification. When these things happen, we don’t always know how they turn out in the end. But we can rest assured that Mary is well taken care of, and she and Nathan can count on each other for years to come.

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WATCH: Man Reunites With the Woman He Saved From a Burning Car After a Crash

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h/t: ABC

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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.