1. Mamoudu Gassama Climbed Like Spider-Man to Save a Boy From Falling
A young immigrant from Mali made headlines in France and around the world when he saved a young boy from falling from a very high balcony in 2018. Mamoudu Gassama had only been in the country for a year when he was walking along the street and saw the child dangling. Gassama proceeded to perform a feat of almost superhuman ability.
“I just didn’t have time to think, I ran across the road to go and save him,” Gassama remarked to President Macron. “I just climbed up and thank God, God helped me. The more I climbed the more I had the courage to climb up higher, that’s it.”
Gassama received widespread and well-deserved praise from many in France, including both Anne Hidalgo, the Mayor of Paris, and President Macron, who declared the young man would become a naturalized citizen.
2. Ken Hawj Rescued a Drowning Boy After the Boy’s Uncle Died Trying to Save Him
The story of Ken Hawj’s brave actions is one of both tragedy and extraordinary courage. When 11-year-old Calvin Vang fell into the St. Croix River in Minnesota, he must have thought his life was over, particularly once his uncle perished trying to save him.
Fortunately, bystander Ken Hawj leapt off a nearby cliff and managed to pull the boy out of the river. For this courageous act, he was granted an award by the Chisago County Sheriff in 2014.
3. Crossing Guard Marie Conley Took the Brunt of an Oncoming Car to Save a Child
Though they are sometimes overlooked, crossing guards play a pivotal role in keeping children safe from oncoming traffic. More rarely, such individuals give their lives in protection of those placed in their trust, which was the case with Marie Conley in 2008. She put herself in the way of a speeding vehicle that had run through the intersection and, though she saved a 10-year-old child, she was fatally injured.
In the aftermath of her passing, her family set up a scholarship in her honor. She was also posthumously awarded the Citizen Service Before Self Honors, which was voted on by the surviving Medal of Honor recipients. Her son Christopher had this to say:
“I told a reporter in Washington that if she was here, she wouldn’t be accepting these rewards. She did things because they were the right thing to do, that’s how she lived. If she was here, she’d say she was just doing her job.”
4. Three Tourists on a European Train Stopped a Terrorist Attack
Being caught in the middle of a terrorist attack is a truly horrifying experience. In such a situation, it’s far easier to duck and run for cover. However, three American tourists—along with a French national and a British citizen—did the opposite, showing extraordinary courage.
In January 2018, a train bound for Paris from Amsterdam was boarded by a gunman, who proceeded to open fire. The young men knew they had to do something. After charging and tackling him (after the perpetrator’s gun appeared to jam), they managed to keep him restrained. It was an act of tremendous bravery and, whether or not the man intended to commit a terrorist attack or simply rob the passengers, they likely prevented a major loss of life.
One of them, Chris Norman, later said:
“My thought was, ‘OK, I’m probably going to die anyway, so let’s go.’ I’d rather die being active, trying to get him down, than simply sit in the corner and be shot. Either you sit down and you die or you get up and you die. It was really nothing more than that.”
5. William Ayotte Saved a Woman From a Polar Bear
Polar bears are some of the most fearsome predators on the planet, and while their prey primarily consists of seals, they have been known to attack humans. Erin Greene found this out the hard way when she was attacked by one of the animals in Manitoba, Canada, in 2013. However, she was saved from near-certain death by William Ayotte, who grabbed a snow shovel and attacked the bear.
While he succeeded in turning the polar bear’s attention away from Greene, Ayotte became the target himself and endured a brutal mauling.
“I could hear his tongue. I could hear the skin ripping and everything,” Ayotte said in an interview. “But I didn’t feel anything.”
Just when it seemed he would give his own life saving another, one of Ayotte’s neighbors managed to scare the bear away by driving a truck toward it. Ayotte later recovered from his injuries and was awarded the Canadian Decoration for Bravery.
6. Jencie Fagan Talked Down a School Shooter Then Bear-Hugged Him
Mass shootings in schools are among the most tragic events imaginable. Thanks to an extraordinary teacher named Jencie Fagan, a potentially devastating attack was stopped in 2008.
When she heard gunshots, Fagan went into the hallway and confronted a student who had already wounded two classmates and was continuing to shoot.
Rather than backing down, she directed other students to safety, calmly talked the shooter into surrendering, and then wrapped him in a bear hug, holding him until law enforcement officers arrived.
7. Jeremy Berish Saved a Woman From a Burning Car Wreck
It takes exceptional courage to rescue someone from a car moments before it bursts into flames, yet this is exactly what Jeremy Berish of Pennsylvania did in 2014. After hearing the sound of a crash outside his home, he looked outside and saw Renee Geho, who had lost control of her vehicle.
Berish immediately realized the car was about to catch fire and dragged the unconscious woman to safety just moments before the vehicle erupted in flames.
What makes his actions even more remarkable is that he rushed to help wearing only his pajamas and flip-flops. Though many praised him as a hero, Berish remained humble.
“That term is being used, but I don’t really see it that way,” he said.
8. Wesley Autrey Jumped in Front of an Oncoming Subway Train to Save a Man
The New York City subway can be a dangerous place, as Cameron Hollopeter discovered in 2007 when he suffered a seizure and fell onto the tracks at the 137th Street station.
Construction worker Wesley Autrey reacted instantly, jumping onto the tracks and pinning Hollopeter between the rails as a subway train passed directly over them.
Autrey later recalled:
“And when the train came to a stop he was beginning to freak out, so I knocked his arm down. I yelled up and said firefighter, police, and this guy is grabbing stuff underneath the train. I just saved his life. We were lying in water. I’m not trying to get electrocuted, what do I do? I was like you pinned him down once you can pin him down again.”
Autrey’s incredible bravery earned him international recognition and praise from leaders including then-New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, President George W. Bush, and television host David Letterman.