This Old Man Unhesitatingly Blocks a Horse From Killing a Little Girl

by N/A, 10 years ago | 3 min read

John Shear, an employee at a racetrack in California, rose to the occasion one day and became a hero in a matter of seconds.

Watch this man save a five-year-old girl's life.

It's just heartwarming.

This is John Shear, a.k.a. "Little Johnny." He's 92 years old.

John has been working at Santa Anita Park–a thoroughbred racetrack in California–for 51 years.

A few years ago, John made a split-second decision that caused him to become a hero.

While standing near an open gate at the racetrack one day, John noticed a horse was on the loose–and that it was headed right for a little girl.

That little girl was Roxy Key–then, only five years old.

John, who was 90 years old at the time, threw himself between Roxy and the horse, allowing his body to absorb the full impact of the blow.

John said that he didn't think twice about what he was doing. He saw a child in danger, and did what he had to do to save her life.

No question about it, he's a good man through and through.

After sustaining critical injuries and seven weeks of hospital stays and rehabilitation, John made a full recovery.

More than two years after his heroic deed, John finally got a chance to see Roxy when he visited her ballet studio.

This is Roxy, now 8 years old. The two had never met prior to the incident, and hadn't seen each other since.

It was quite a reunion.

John saved the life of a little girl he'd never met. Would you do the same?

We can all learn from John's example.