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Incredible teens rescue man from burning truck without a moment to lose

NELSON FIRE DEPARTMENT

Photo Courtesy of Joseph Sarcione

Cerith Gardiner - published on 04/25/22

The brothers didn't hesitate to go to the rescue, despite the risk to their own lives.

Two teenagers from Hillsboro, New Hampshire, were driving to Maryland with their mom when they witnessed an accident. According to Kake, Vincent and Jake Heck spotted a pickup truck crash into a rock along their route. The boys immediately told their mom to stop the car so they could help out.

Before their mom had the chance to pull the car over to a stop, Vincent, 19, had leapt out of the car to run to the smoking vehicle. He managed to pull the driver to safety, while Jake, 16, checked the back of the car for passengers.

As soon as the pair pulled the man from danger, his truck was engulfed in flames. The teens then started administering CPR to the individual to help him breathe.

Nelson’s fire chief, Joseph Sarcione, shared that the driver was now recovering in hospital, and added how timely the boys’ rescue had proven to be:

“By the time I got there, the vehicle was fully engulfed and if that individual was still in there, that individual would never have survived the incident.”

Quite naturally, the emergency departments throughout the state have shared their support of the boys and their quick-thinking. But the teens are reticent to acknowledge their new-found hero status.

In fact, Jake’s response to the whole incident is not only humble, but a reminder to children and adults alike of what it means to be a decent person:

“I did what I could do. If it wasn’t for my brother getting him out of that car, he would not have survived. I was not fast enough to get him out of the car.” He also added, “I just think I was doing what any normal human being should do. I wish somebody would do the same for me.”

Once more, it is wonderful to see teens reminding us of some crucial life lessons, and this gives us such hope for the future.

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