These Heroes Risked Their Lives to Save Others

In a world that often celebrates personal gain, self-interest, and compassion only for what’s wrong with this world, we should take time to honor those who show true selflessness in the face of danger. We don’t find those types of people every day. When someone protects others at the risk of their own lives, they show unadulterated courageousness, proving compassion and empathy still exist in a world that sometimes leaves us questioning humanity.

KHP Trooper Rescues 6-Year-Old Kidnapping Victim During Traffic Stop

A 6-year-old girl, who had been kidnapped from her home was found during a routine traffic stop by a trooper with the Kansas Highway Patrol.

The unnamed trooper stopped an SUV for a traffic violation. He found two men in their 60s in the front and a 6-year-old girl in the backseat. A records search determined one of the men had an out-of-state kidnapping warrant from a month prior.

Both men were placed in handcuffs and the 6-year-old was removed from the vehicle. She initially gave police a fake name and age, as she had been coached to do. After some time, she told the trooper learned her real name.

The unnamed men were taken into custody.

CT Teen Saves Mom and Her Three Kids

Justin Gavin is the first real-life hero on the list. The 18-year-old from Waterbury, CT, saved the lives of a mother and her three children after her vehicle caught on fire.

The vehicle traveled down the road, the mother behind the wheel unaware that the car was in flames. Drivers yelled at the driver, some honked their horns at her, but she could not stop the car.

Gavin was among those people.

He yelled, “Stop the car! Your car is one fire!” He said at that point, his instincts took over and he knew he needed to do more.

The vehicle finally came to a stop. Gavin pulled the mother from the driver’s seat and three children, ages one, four, and nine years old. All four people escaped the burning vehicle without injuries.

Seconds after rescuing the four people from the car, it burst into flames.

He told Upworhy, “It kind of got scary because I didn’t know whether I was going to be able to get everyone out in time. And luckily, I did.”

The Waterbury Police Department honored Gavin’s heroic actions with a “challenge coin.”

Pfc. D’Marcus Ranson Saves Stabbing Victim

Pfc. D’Marcus Ranson was on leave from Fort Drum (Army Base, New York) for the Christmas holidays in 2018 when he witnessed two people fighting at a club in Lubbock, Texas. The fight ended with one of the women getting stabbed and Ranson saving her life.

The incident occurred around 3:30 a.m. on Christmas morning.

Ranson and his brothers left the club and noticed a crowd of people screaming that someone had been stabbed. He approached the crowd and saw a woman, later identified as Passion “Monea” Burtraw lying unconscious on the ground in a pool of blood. She had been stabbed in the neck and abdomen.

The people surrounding Burtraw recorded the incident on their phones, gossiped over the situation, and some even threw up, yet no one helped. Ranson knew he had to act.

Ranson removed his shirt and applied it to Burtraw’s neck to help stop the bleeding. He stayed with the woman until paramedics arrived and later visited her in the hospital.

A 16-year-old was later charged with stabbing Burtraw.

In January 2019, Pfc. Ranson was honored for his courageous bravery with the Army Commendation Medal.

"As crazy as things got that night I'm thankful I was able to be there for Passion Burtraw in a time of need. It was an experience I'll never forget but more than anything I thank God for keeping her in his arms and allowing me to see her smiling and recovering well. Most definitely she will be in my prayers. I will never forget her, and no matter how far I'm away from her I will always stay in touch with her," said Ranson.