Teen Hero Selflessly Risks His Own Life To Save Mom And 3 Kids Trapped In A Burning Car
September 29, 2023
A woman was trapped in a burning car with her three kids until an 18-year-old named Justin came to their rescue.
Justin Gavin from Connecticut said that he noticed an SUV on fire as he was walking down a local street. "I'm yelling, 'Stop the car! Your car is on fire! Your car is on fire!'" Justin shared.
RELATED: Family Clings To Faith And Requests Prayer For Baby Boy In Hospital After House Fire
There were no officers on the scene yet, so Justin stepped into action to help the family in trouble. "I just felt like if I was in that situation, I would want somebody to help me out," Justin said. “I guess my instincts took over."
Justin soon noticed something when he was helping get the woman out of her burning vehicle. There were also three children stuck inside the car! "As the flames grew larger, Justin pulled all three of the kids from the car, including a 1-year-old baby in a car seat," said Captain Michael DaSilva of the Waterbury Police Department.
Family Trapped In A Burning Car Saved By Teen
"It kind of got scary because I didn't know whether I was going to be able to get everyone out in time," Justin recalled. "And luckily, I did."
To honor Justin for his bravery and heroic efforts, Police Chief Fernando Spagnolo presented Justin with a "challenge coin."
"One of the things I do to recognize people’s heroic feats or excellent work, I provide them with what’s called a challenge coin. It’s just to acknowledge this heroic act that you conducted today, and just a token of my appreciation for you being a great member of this community," the police chief told Justin. "I hope that when you have that coin, it just reminds you of this day and you can reflect back on all the good that came out of this for you and the family you saved. Any time you can always look at that time and reflect back on this great moment in your life."
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Father Races Back To Save Family During Oregon Wildfires Only To Find The Worst
What an incredible act of bravery by Justin! And thank the Lord that he was there when he was to save that family from the fire!
WATCH: Brave Teen Honored For His Heroic Actions
LISTEN: 6-Year-Old Injured While Shielding His 4-Year-Old Sister So Captain America Sent Heartfelt Message
h/t: People
Featured Image Credit: Facebook/Waterbury Police Department
Today's Devotional
A Prayer for Comfort When Someone You Love Is Suffering - Your Daily Prayer - November 15
We want God to step in to resolve all of our heartaches and pain, but we still want to do things our way.
Today's Devotional
A Prayer for Comfort When Someone You Love Is Suffering - Your Daily Prayer - November 15
We want God to step in to resolve all of our heartaches and pain, but we still want to do things our way.
Past Stories
- Teens Befriend Boy With Autism and Make Sure He Feels Included
- 50 Years After Meeting in Middle School, Couple Returns to the Cafeteria Where Their Story Began
- Man Buys an Old Video Camera and Discovers a Family’s Forgotten Home Movies Inside
- 104-Year-Old Woman Receives an Unexpected Connection to Brother She Lost 83 Years Ago
- When Fear of the Unknown Followed Me Around the World
- The Mistake Most Guys Make That Keeps Them Exhausted
- After 4-Year-Old’s Medical Donations Are Stolen, Community Steps In to Restore Hope
- A Community Turns Out in Force to Give Hospice Patient One Last Special Day
- A Beloved Morning Tradition Continues After the Heartbreaking Loss of One Close Friend
- 5-Year-Old Boy Springs Into Action and Helps Save His Grandmother’s Life
- High School Softball Rivals Make a Stunning Discovery: They’re Actually Sisters
- 16-Year-Old’s Quick Thinking Helps Save His Dad During a Heart Attack
- Grieving Passenger Never Forgot a Flight Attendant’s Kindness, 4 Years Later, They Finally Reunite
- 18-Year-Old Walks Away Barefoot After Giving His Shoes to an Elderly Man in Need
- Custodian Answers a Family’s Plea for a Kidney Donor With a Life-Changing Yes
- When I Lost My Passport in Greece
- Man Overhears a Conversation and Quietly Steps in With an Act of Kindness No One Saw Coming
- At 100 Years Old, This Pennsylvania Bowler Is Still Knocking Down Pins and Inspiring Everyone Around Him
- K-9 Deputy Tracks Down 3 Missing Children After They Wander Away From Campsite
- What Started With Concern for Her Son’s Future Became a Mission to Employ Others With Autism
- Students Welcome Their New Classmate With a Halloween Costume Built Around Her Wheelchair
- Before His Open-Heart Surgery, a 3-Year-Old Gets the Sweetest Halloween Surprise
- 12-Year-Old Gives Old Stuffed Animals New Purpose by Donating Them to Children in Need
- Stranger Donates Part of Her Liver to Dad Battling Stage 4 Cancer So He Can See His Kids Grow Up
- Grieving Mother Turns Son’s Memory Into Hope for Families in Need
- Strangers Rush to Rescue 13-Year-Old Trapped Under Car After He’s Hit Walking Home
- When God Sends You a Neighbor
- College Student Spots 3-Year-Old Clinging to a Creek Branch and Jumps In to Save Him
- 12-Year-Old Turns Compassion Into Action, Donating Nearly 30,000 Diapers to Families in Need
- Third Grader Finishes Cancer Treatment and Returns to School for a ‘Victory Parade’ Filled With Cheers
- Woman Turns Fabric Into Courage With Handmade Capes for Cancer Patients Facing Chemotherapy
- Couple Survives Lightning Strike and Opens Up About Terrifying Moments: ‘I Couldn’t See or Move My Legs.’
- Nearly 3 Years After Their Dog Disappeared, One Scan Leads to the Reunion They Never Expected
- ‘He’s Got to Pull Through’: Officer Prays as 8-Year-Old Fights for His Life After Pool Accident
- 101-Year-Old Woman Reflects on the Secrets to a Long and Joyful Life
- He Saw His Neighbor Trapped by a House Fire, and Rushed In Without Even Stopping for Shoes
- Rescue Kitten Throws Ceremonial First Pitch at Ballpark
- After Losing Its Owner to Cancer, A Beloved Bakery Is Surrounded by an Outpouring of Community Love
- Surprise KFC Parking Lot Birth Gives Baby Cody a Nickname He May Have for Life
- Family Buys 5 Acres for Storage, but Says 'God Had a Different Plan' for Their Son With Down Syndrome
- Family Breaks Record as Multiple Generations Are Born on the Exact Same Day
- When Being a Man of God Doesn’t Mean Having It All Together
- Twin Sisters Conjoined at the Head Successfully Separated in Life-Changing Surgery
- When Christians Are Told to Stay Poor
- Backyard Pool Gets Some Unexpected Guests When Momma Bear and Cubs Stop By
- Pregnant Mom’s Movie Night With Her Son Takes an Unexpected Turn When She Gives Birth Mid-Film
- Beloved Nurse Who Always Went the Extra Mile Retires After 58 Years of Service
- Heroic Rescue Dog Joey Helps Find 3 Survivors in the Rubble After Venezuela Quake
- Flight Attendant Helps Overwhelmed Mom Mid-Flight With a Heartwarming Act of Kindness
- Dolly Parton Corn Mazes Are Cropping Up Nationwide in a Sweet Tribute to the Country Legend
Top Music Videos
Tauren Wells Tauren Wells 'Sunday Morning' Official Lyric Video
Chris Tomlin 'A Christmas Alleluia' - Chris Tomlin Featuring Lauren Daigle And Leslie Jordan
Bill and Gloria Gaither Wintley Phipps - It Is Well With My Soul (From Bill Gloria Gaither Live)
Gaither Vocal Band Gaither Vocal Band - I'm Gonna Sing
Oak Ridge Boys 'Jesus Is Coming Soon' The Oak Ridge Boys
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.