A California firefighter is earning widespread praise after being seen comforting a small child following a serious car crash involving her family.
According to KNSD, a large truck veered into oncoming traffic on a highway near San Diego, colliding with a vehicle carrying a mother, her two young daughters, and another adult relative. As emergency crews tended to the injured mother and her 6-year-old daughter, firefighter-paramedic Ryan Lopez from the Heartland Fire & Rescue Department stepped in to care for the 4-year-old girl, who had escaped major injuries.
News cameras captured the heartwarming scene as Lopez gently rocked the child in his arms, soothing her amidst the chaos. Moments later, he carried her to the fire truck, gave her water, and held her again as she rested her head on his shoulder.
The crash involved a black Kia Sorrento carrying the mother and her two daughters, ages 4 and 6. The older girl sustained a broken neck and was having trouble breathing, requiring immediate transport to a children’s hospital. Thankfully, the younger girl and their mother only had minor injuries. The mother was able to ride in the ambulance with her older daughter.
The moment drew emotional reactions on the Newsiosity Facebook page.
“Praying they all recover,” one user wrote. “God bless that firefighter for his compassion.”
“He said it was just instinct because he’s a dad,” another commenter added. “That’s humility and heroism in one.”
Lopez later spoke to KNSD, explaining the moment from his perspective.
“She just wanted to be held and to feel safe,” he said of the 4-year-old.
After making sure she wasn’t seriously hurt, Lopez — who is a father to a 2-month-old baby — said he knew the next priority was to comfort her emotionally.
He humbly added that he sees his actions as simply part of the job, stating, “It’s not something I’d ever seek recognition for. I truly believe any of my fellow responders would’ve done the same.”
