Heroic Parents

Fear is no match for a parent put in a position to save their child’s life. The love a parent has for their child allows them to face imminent danger with hellacious fury, as proven by the parents in the three stories below.

Father Cradled Son Who Fell From Balcony, Saving His Life

Brad Lewis watched in horror as his 8-year-old son, Oscar, lost his footing as he tried catching Nerf bullets that flew toward him. His son fell over the balcony railing, and Brad jumped after him.

Brad hoped he could save Oscar’s life, even if that meant sacrificing his own. He grabbed hold of his son as they fell 13 feet to the ground, cradling him closely to his body. Brad figured if he could wrap Oscar close enough, he would bear the brunt of the impact as they smashed into the concrete.

Brad, Oscar, and his other son, 6-year-old Connor, were visiting a friend, Beau Worthington, in Sydney when the accident occurred.

Beau called an ambulance as he rushed to his friend’s side.

Brad fractured his skull and neck and broke several vertebrae, yet his only question for paramedics concerned Oscar’s well-being. He repeatedly asked the question as he fell in and out of consciousness.

Oscar suffered a bruise on his brain, a mild concussion, and a fractured skull. He was released from the hospital several days after the incident.

Brad took 45 staples to his head following emergency surgery. Several months later, the 42-year-old fully recovered from his injuries and said he would do it all over again to save his son’s life.

Mom Saved Toddler From Cougar Attack

In 2009, Maureen Lee took her 3-year-old daughter, Maya, hiking on a trail near their home 40 miles north of Vancouver, Canada, when an 88-pound cougar jumped out of the bushes, tackling the toddler.

Maureen jumped into action, wedging herself between Maya and the cougar. Mama Bear courage and strength infiltrated her body and allowed her to push the animal off Maya.

Maureen grabbed Maya and ran to a nearby house while the cougar ran into the woods.

Maya suffered only minor lacerations and scratching from the cougar.

At the hospital, Maya asked her mommy, “Why didn’t the kitty play nice”?

Man Kills Coyotes With Bare Hands After Animal Attacks Family

In 2020, a New Hampshire dad fought off and killed a coyote with his bare hands when the animal attacked his family as they walked on a trail in Exeter.

Ian O’Reilly stepped into the woods for a brief moment when he heard his wife scream. He peeked through the branches of the brush and witnessed a coyote attacking their son.

Ian sprang into action, using his bare hands to grab the coyote and toss it off his son. Angrily, the coyote stood its ground, bearing its teeth and a mean growl as it lunged toward Ian.

The coyote gashed his chest and arm, but he didn't dare move, fearful the animal would turn on his family. The coyote lunged at Ian again, although this time, Ian kicked it in the face, stunning the animal enough for Ian to wrestle it to the ground.

Ian repeatedly punched the coyote; it did not give up. Ian wrapped one hand around its snout and his other around its neck, strangling the animal to death.

Hours before this attack, police received a call from a 62-year-old woman who reported she and her dogs had been attacked by a coyote. Another call came in a short time later reporting a coyote attacking a vehicle. Officials believe that the same coyote was involved in all of the attacks.