An ex-marine and former college football player saved a 3 year-old boy, Jameson Long, after he was thrown out of a burning building in which his mother tragically died. 28-year-old Phillip Blanks was filmed catching the boy by an observer in Phoenix, Arizona.
Phillip says that he was passing by when he heard cries of 'fire' and went running to see if he could help. On the balcony of the building was the boy's mother, Rachael, with the youngster in her arms. Realising that she had no other escape route, she threw the boy into the waiting arms of Phillip who caught the boy just before he hit the ground.
In an interview with ABC7, Phillip said:
"He was twirling in the air like a propeller. I just did my best. His head landed perfectly on my elbow. There wasn't much thinking. I just reacted. I just did it. The guy who was there with me — it looked like he wasn't going to catch him. So that's why I stepped in. I just wanted to make a better catch."
Phillip put his save down to being a trained US marine and long experience playing American Football. He added:
"I know how to catch. I've learned how to catch a football. So I'll give some credit to football. I can definitely credit to the Marine Corps for instilling this good training in me to save a life. I don't see myself as a hero. A person trained to do my job is trained to protect people."
He did however lay most of the praise on the boy's mother, who knowing she could not escape made the effort to get to the balcony and drop her boy to safety:
"She's the real hero of the story. Because she made the ultimate sacrifice to save her children."
The video really is shocking, and a testimony to the sheer bravery of Rachael and Phillip in saving the youngster's life.
"I saw another guy was standing there ready to catch the boy, but he didn't look like he was going to do it, so I stepped in front of him"--Phillip Blanks former Kalamazoo Central Wide Receiver https://t.co/Da269ITmms
— Kirk Mason (@KirkMasonWWMT) July 7, 2020
A gofundme page has been set up to assist the Long family through this traumatic time and help them get back on their feet, it has already raised almost $100,000.
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