Teen rescues mother, 3 kids from burning car

Justin Gavin with police chief Fernando Spagnolo (left) and the burned car (Images: Screengrabs from Facebook/Waterbury Police Department)

A teenager is being hailed a hero after saving a woman and her three children from a burning car in Connecticut in the United States.

Justin Gavin, 18, was walking down a street when he saw the vehicle on Sept. 9, as per the Waterbury Police Department’s Facebook post the day after.

He then jumped into action and rushed toward the burning car. Gavin helped the mother escape by opening one of its doors.

https://www.facebook.com/WaterburyPoliceDept/videos/776947209784573/

After freeing the mother, he spotted her three children in the back seat and returned to save them.

“As the flames grew larger, Justin pulled all three of the kids from the car, including a 1-year-old baby in a car seat,” captain Michael DaSilva said in a video on the department’s page.

Authorities arrived soon after Gavin’s heroic act and extinguished the flames.

Following the rescue, police chief Fernando Spagnolo honored and thanked Gavin with a “challenge coin.” The chief hopes that the token will remind the teen of his heroic deed and the lives he saved.

Gavin later told CBS-affiliate WFSB that the incident made him reflect on life.

“Life is too short,” he said, “so I just thought if that was me in that situation, I would want someone to help me.” Ryan Arcadio /ra

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