A 12-year-old boy from Oklahoma is being hailed as a young hero after he courageously risked his own life to save three other children after an ATV suddenly burst into flames.

A statement from the Wagoner County Sheriff's Office said that the incident occurred on the morning of Oct. 27, when four children were riding in a Polaris Razor ATV. Authorities said that the kids were riding to their usual bus stop when the ATV they were on suddenly burst into flames.

A Young Hero

They noted that the 12-year-old boy, identified as Roman Goodnight, started shouting for everyone to get out of the vehicle. After realizing that a six-year-old passenger was having trouble opening the door, Goodnight rushed to the back to rescue them while instructing the others to move away from the ATV.

After the 12-year-old saved the young child, he saw that his sister was still stuck near the rear of the burning vehicle, which is where the fuel tank and engine are located. Officials said that the boy did not hesitate and immediately ran back toward the flames to rescue his sister, according to 12OnYourSide.

It was only after all of the children were safely away from the burning ATV did Goodnight left himself, which was only a few moments before explosions started. In a statement, the sheriff's office said that the 12-year-old boy's quick thinking and selfless actions ensured that everyone involved in the accident was safe and overall uninjured.

Additionally, Wagoner County Sheriff Chris Elliott said that the young boy's actions will "not be forgotten, and he stands as a true example of what it means to be a hero." This references Goodnight's bravery and composure under extreme pressure that prevented what could have been a devastating tragedy.

Saving Another Child

Surprisingly, this was not the 12-year-old boy's first heroic act, as he had previously rescued his younger brother from drowning, KTUL reported.

In a similar incident, surveillance video from a North Carolina school showed a nine-year-old boy stepping in to help his friend, who was choking, by using the Heimlich Maneuver. The child said that he learned the technique by watching videos on YouTube.

The heroic boy was identified as Jayceon Branch, who saved the life of his seven-year-old friend, Darren. The incident happened while the two boys were playing basketball with two other children.

Suddenly, Darren bent over, and Branch quickly gave two compressions on his friend's abdomen, which forcibly dislodged food from his throat, as per Good News Network.

Originally published on parentherald.com

Tags
Children, Kids, Rescue