When two bombs detonated at the Boston Marathon last week, off-duty firefighter Matt Patterson immediately ran towards the destruction, not away from it.
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That’s when he came across a little girl whose leg was injured. In that moment, all Patterson could think about was stopping the blood and getting her to safety.
That little girl, 7-year-old Jane Richard, just happens to be Martin Richard’s little sister. Martin, 8, was one of the three fatalities in the bombings.
Now, amateur video that captured Patterson’s quick-thinking and heroism is circling the internet.
“This child for some reason just jumped at me – it was tunnel vision,” he said.
Moments before, he and his girlfriend were enjoying a meal at a restaurant near the finish line.
“I could see the damage. I could see that she needed a tourniquet. She needed surgery, it was obvious from what I saw. I go up to a business guy and ask for his belt, he hands it over without hesitation. I have to stop the bleeding. I am making the tourniquet and another man comes and I ask him to hold it for pressure. I’m looking up and down the street – looking for where I can bring the child to an ambulance or more care.”
He and another man ran Jane to a nearby ambulance. The small Irish dancer eventually lost her leg.
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“Why would you hurt innocent children – what does that prove? I’m happy she’s ok and I got word she’s recovering as good as she can.”
We’re happy you jumped into action, Patterson. As always, our thoughts and prayers to all the victims of the Boston Marathon bombings.
SOURCE: DailyMail
