"You are our angel, the way you flew in and helped him," said the boy's mother.
The quick thinking of a man saved the life of a little boy from Illinois. According to People, UPS (United Parcel Service) driver Marco Angel saved Max Pratt, who got stuck under a 97-lb. package containing a hammock outside his residence on Ridgeland Avenue, Oak Park.
The incident took place after Pratt thought he could deliver the package to his mother without realizing how heavy it was. The CCTV footage showed the 4-year-old attempting to take the package into his house from their front porch. As soon as he moved it, it fell over, and poor Pratt found himself underneath the heavy box. Fortunately, Angel was in the area and spotted the boy calling out for help. The kind man quickly jumped to action and saved the boy's life.
UPS Driver Saves 4-Year-Old Boy After He Becomes Trapped Underneath 97-Lb. Package: 'Our Angel' https://t.co/zYXEMzHsl7
— People (@people) April 23, 2021
Speaking to WBBM, the little boy recalled the frightening incident. He stated, "I was scared I was going to fall down the stairs." He continued, "I was saying, 'Help!' and then the package man just came back and lifted the box."
Angel recalled the turn of events as well. He stated, "As soon as I saw the package tilt, I just started running back to it." He also stated that he thought of his boys when he saw Max struggle beneath the box. "I pictured my boys in his situation. Obviously, you go into, kind of, full parent mode or full dad mode to make sure the kid is all right," added Angel.
UPS hero Marco Angel came to the rescue when Max Pratt was crushed by a 97-pound box. https://t.co/bX8O8e936n
— Stephanie Dexter (@Stephanie_Dex) April 23, 2021
He told the media outlet that he was happy that Max was okay. "I'm just happy that I was able to get that box off him because the box did weigh. I [was] just hoping the little boy is all right. That's all I want," said Angel. Meanwhile, Angel's quick thinking was appreciated by many.
A spokesperson for UPS commented on the incident, "We're all truly grateful that Max was not injured and are proud of driver Marco Angel for his quick actions and concern for others."
Max's parents also thanked the driver and called him their hero. "He didn't think twice. He didn't even look for traffic. He came sprinting. It was pretty cool," said Max's dad. His mother added, "You are our angel, the way you flew in and helped him."
Little Max offers a huge thank you to @UPS driver who help free a 97lbs box from on top of him. The full story tonight at 10pm @cbschicago pic.twitter.com/2EIxrkYfOn
— Jermont Terry (@JermontTerry) April 22, 2021
The parents informed the news outlet that their little boy did not suffer any injuries. They also said that they have spoken to him regarding the risks of opening the front door without adult supervision. The family thanked the driver through a zoom call for his presence of mind that prevented their child from being injured.
Such acts of kindness and courage are not rare. According to People, a curious 7-year-old boy, Elias Quezada, was rescued by a sanitation worker, Waldo Fidele after he climbed into a garbage bin.
Luckily, Fidele spotted the boy in the bin before he could be tossed into a garbage truck with the help of a mechanical arm. "He's truly a hero. If he hadn't been paying close attention to the job, we would all be searching for a missing 7-year-old today," said Shawn Plunkett, operations manager for Waste Connections of Florida Operations in Tampa.
References:
https://chicago.cbslocal.com/2021/04/21/ups-driver-rescues-4-year-old-oak-park-boy-heavy-box/
https://people.com/human-interest/sanitation-worker-saves-boy-climbed-inside-trash-can/
Cover image (representational): Getty Images | Photo by skynesher
