It is evident that sometimes the Universe places people in strategic positions to allow them to share kindness and benevolence.
Liam Stych leapt into action after hearing a woman scream, “Help me, help me, please save my baby!” A video captured the scene as the woman’s car was being dragged under a footbridge during severe flooding in Birmingham, England, following Storm Henk.
Liam explained that while walking over the bridge, he heard the woman’s desperate cries. He noted that the front of her car was pointing down into the water, prompting him to dangle off the bridge, as he didn’t want to worsen the situation by adding his weight to the sinking vehicle. The 28-year-old recounted how he dangled off the bridge and smashed the rear passenger window of the car. He used ratchet straps to secure the Fiat to the bridge, preventing it from sinking further
He instructed the woman to remain calm and to lower her window to hand him her child. Although she could only open the window halfway, he managed to grab the baby and “hurled her” into the arms of his pregnant partner, who was waiting on the bridge. After ensuring the baby was safe, Liam quickly ran to his work van to retrieve a set of 3.5-ton ratchet straps. He returned to the car, smashed the back passenger window, and secured the vehicle to the bridge to prevent it from drifting further.
Liam then told the woman to climb into the back and exit through the window. She successfully managed to get out, and they held hands to jump into the water together after counting to three. He described the current as very strong but was able to drag her out of the water.
West Midlands Police praised Liam as a hero, but the modest father of two insisted that he had simply acted on instinct. He reflected that if he hadn’t intervened, the car would have been dragged under the bridge, making it nearly impossible to rescue the occupants. It is truly unfortunate that the woman lost her car and shopping but if not for Liam’s swift and kind intervention, it could’ve been worse.
May we never shy away from the responsibility of stretching out our hands in service to humanity every time there’s a need for such.