Former Marine Breaks Woman's 45-Foot Fall

Many of you have heard this story.  (Sorry I am so far behind on updating the blog, but I am working to catch up.)  When I first heard about this gentleman attempting to catch the falling fan, I thought it was a spur-of-the-moment response.  The story below tells otherwise.  Apparently this guy pleaded with the woman for quite a while not to jump, so he had plenty of time to think through the implications of staying underneath her... and he chose to stay anyway.  Semper Fi!!

http://www.businessinsider.com/raiders-fan-saves-woman-2013-11

At 90, John Shears Shows that Guts Have no Age Limit

The man jumped in front of a charging horse to protect the life of a child.  This is a classic example of "doing what you have to do" regardless of the potential consequences.  Thank you, Mr. Shear.  Happy 92nd!

http://www.newsnet5.com/news/national/92-year-old-john-shear-finally-meets-little-girl-he-risked-his-life-to-save

David Doneruse Alive After Explosion

Pulled from his burning truck just seconds before by unnamed strangers.  You've got to take hats off to these guys!

http://www.abc57.com/home/top-stories/EXCLUSIVE-Driver-wants-to-thank-strangers-who-saved-his-life-229003091.html

Josefa Martinez - Worth Reading...

There is nothing for me to add to this.

http://www.ncregister.com/daily-news/beatifed-religious-sisters-niece-recounts-how-her-aunt-saved-her-life/

Michael Landsberry Takes a Fatal Bullet Meant for Child

A teacher's job is one of the toughest in the world.  Between the mediocre pay, combative parents, and often disrespectful kids, it is a wonder anyone even applies for the job.  Yet when one of his students was in jeopardy, Mr. Landsberry didn't even hesitate.  He placed himself between his student and a loaded gun, paying with his life.  How do people do this?

http://www.news10.net/news/article/261383/2/Sparks-student-says-heroic-teacher-saved-his-life

Bibi Boucher, Wife and mom, Pulls Man from Burning Truck

Ms. Boucher's response to the accident and the aftermath is almost textbook.  She did it without even considering doing anything else.  She responded when there were others there who could have been considered better equipped, and she lost sleep until she was sure the victim was on the road to recovery.  What a lady!  Thank you Bibi!

 



http://www.desertdispatch.com/articles/burning-15162-saves-truck.html

http://www.desertdispatch.com/articles/woman-15233-barstow-life.html

Denise Olveda's Sister Chases Kidnapper

This is one of those stories that showcases a sister's love.  The story at the link below never identifies the sister, but it is pretty clear that she took a lot of risk to chase an armed kidnapper miles through town until by chance finding a police officer.  So glad that this one worked out and all are home safe!

http://www.khou.com/news/texas-news/224221911.html

Ross Township: David Fleetwood Dies Saving Another

Mr. Fleetwood was first to react when bullets started pumping into the town meeting.  His determination to get another person out of the line of fire resulted in him taking the bullet instead.  The most telling comment from the woman he saved is typical of many heroes themselves: "...he did what he had to do to help others."  Another witness, Dave Labar, was prepared to enter the line of fire as well.  Thank you gentlemen.

http://wnep.com/2013/08/07/shooting-witness-says-victim-saved-her-life/

Charlie Evans and Jonathan Willard Pull Family from Burning Car

What would you do if you saw a person driving a car that was on fire?  These guys knew what they had to do: they got Mom to pull over, then got her, the kids, and the dog out really quick!  Now what do you do when Mom asks you to go back for her purse?  Not just heroes, but gentlemen too! If it had been me, I think Momma would have had to get a new driver's license.  Good on you guys!

http://www.wate.com/story/22926545/crossville-man-tennessee-titan-rescue-family-from

Book on Heroes is now on the Street!

Just finished an e-book on the subject of heroism that I hope will inspire and encourage you.  It is also full of survival tips for common risky situations.  Take a look at the sample at the link below!

 



You can preview the book at this link
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DTKABDE#reader_B00DTKABDE

If you don't have a Kindle, you can download an app for your computer so that you can read it there (or even on your smartphone).  Just get the "kindle for PC" or "kindle for Mac" app at this link
http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html/?nodeId=200450200#download

Temar Boggs and Friend Rescue Kidnapped Child

Temar and his friend hopped on their bikes and pursued a kidnapper who was driving away with a five-year-old abductee.  They stuck to the guy like glue until he was forced to release the child.  This guy could easily have had a gon and turned it on them at any time.  Wow!

http://www.cnn.com/2013/07/15/justice/pennsylvania-teen-heroes/index.html?c=mobile-homepage-t

Life Happens!

The last several weeks have been a busy period, so updates have been limited.  The good news is that I have nearly completed a book I have been writing on acts of heroism similar to those you have read about here.  Within a week, look for an Amazon link to the new book.

Meantime, thank you for checking in!

mark d

Unarmed, Loyau-Kennett Faces Down a Killer

The picture says it all.  With nothing but her courage to work with, this woman and two others placed themselves between a hatchet-wielding attacker and his victim.  Her comment' "Better me than a child," speaks volumes about how she knew this might end, but she did it anyway.  See her hands?  They are in her pockets!  What a lady!

(Photo Credit: Twitter via London Evening Standard)



http://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/better-me-than-a-child--one-of-the-heroines-of-woolwich-explains-why-she-risked-her-life-to-confront-bloodied-knifeman-8628922.html

Tiana Levi Refuses to Leave Fire Without Her Siblings

Even though she is only 12, this young girl, awakened at 2 in the morning in a burning apartment, wasn't about to get out of there without somehow packing up her three toddler sibs.  This was no small feat, because this fire had already created a wall between all three kids and their mother.  Tiana had to strap two of the kids into a stroller to keep a grip on them, put the other on her hip, and then make her way through dense smoke and advancing flames to safety.  You would even make a Marine proud, Tiana!  So cool under pressure!

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10878778

Nick Coultas Makes Two Trips Into Burning Home

The New Zealand auto mechanic likely saved two lives when he was the first on the scene for a house fire.  He made sure that help was on the way, then got both elderly residents to safety.  Bravo!

http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/8529723/Mechanic-risks-life-to-save-elderly-couple-from-burning-home

Do YOU Know of Someone Who Risked it all to Help?

I find a couple of such incidents every month using a web-crawler, but I am sure that there are others.  If any of you become aware of them, please post a comment with a link and I will take it from there.  Thanks!

Wallace, Eagletail Give Lives, 6-Year Old Safe

There is something about a small child going into the water, in this case freezing cold water, that draws people to help.  His older sister, as well as a bystander, went in after the child.  This one is heartbreaking, clearly showing the risk associated with an impromptu water rescue.  So glad that at least the child came home.  Hearts go out to the families of the rescuers.

http://www.usnews.com/news/newsgram/articles/2013/03/15/south-dakota-boy-alive-two-rescuers-believed-dead-after-icy-river-rescue

Harry Yirrell's Gift to others Costs him his Life

This is a tough one.  A young Briton gave his malaria medicine to Ghana kids he felt were at higher risk, then succumbed to the disease himself in a well-equipped western ICU.  There is probably no way to know who or how many he may have saved by his act.  Wow.  Thank you, Harry!

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/real-life-stories/harry-yirrell-gave-away-malaria-1736204

Jerold Garrison Shot for Helping a Robbery Victim

This is one of those stories where so many things could have gone even worse than they did.  It is a story of being betrayed by a friend and then rescued by a total stranger.  It's about one person helping another, regardless of the danger.  It took place several months ago, but just came to my attention.  Jerold tried to defuse a volatile situation, but was caught up in the escalation.  I'm glad he is on the mend!

http://www.azfamily.com/news/Shooting-victim-speaks-about-man-who-risked-his-life-for-hers-186095502.html

http://www.abc15.com/dpp/news/region_phoenix_metro/central_phoenix/phoenix-man-shot-by-robber-wakes-from-coma

Dafydd Williams: Into the River to Save Another

From my point of view, Mr. Willams did everything right on this one.  When a woman disappeared into the cold waters of a flooded river, he first got someone to call for help; he grabbed some flotation, and did all his work while maintaining a grip on something solid.  It could still have gone horribly wrong, but this kind of act is what it is all about!  Thanks Mr. Williams... well deserved!

http://www.darlingtonandstocktontimes.co.uk/news/10144810.Pub_landlord_risked_his_own_life_to_save_drowning_woman/