Man saves guy from burning car; gets flak instead of kudos for deed

Acts of valor are usually endeared by the public, but unfortunately for Santiago Portillo, he received flak for his.

The California-native has received criticism from netizens online, after allegedly setting his camera up first before rescuing a man from a burning car in Los Angeles last week.

According to reports from CBS Los Angeles, the unidentified victim’s car crashed and flipped in an alleged street racing incident, as Portillo was driving along the area.

As seen in the video, Portillo clearly directed his camera towards the fiery vehicle, before rushing and dragging the man out of the wrecked car.

He also urged bystanders near the scene to call 911, as one guy came out with a fire extinguisher, while another pedestrian helped carry the driver to safety.

Immediately after, Portillo grabbed his phone and continued recording the bruised and bloodied man.
Upon circulation of the video, Portillo received plenty of online backlash from enraged netizens who scrutinized him for taking the time to film himself before taking action.

Screen Grab from Newschannel 3, CBS News, WWMT, West Michigan Facebook page

One of the commenters wrote:

“I AGREE with all of you! We see it happening right in front of our faces……Gotta RECORD MY GOOD DEED! I’m GLAD he saved the guy, but stopping to set up for all to see his “courage”? NOT WORTH the accolade he is receiving from people who don’t know what he did!”

While another netizen poked fun of his alleged ‘camera trick’.

“t’s nice that he saved the guy and all, but seriously… “Hold up dying dude, I need to record this so the whole country will call me a hero!”

Portillo, meanwhile, told CBS Los Angeles that he had no idea that someone was inside the vehicle as he set up the recording on his phone, and he rushed over as soon as he realized.

“I had to save him. I saw the big explosion and fire. I was not going to see human get burned,” he claimed.

Los Angeles authorities said that the victim survived the incident and his relatives have already reached out to Portillo for his brave act. Khristian Ibarrola