Sandy Supposes....

Eagle Eyed Rescuer

May 15th prompt: Writè about a time when you or someone you know acted selflessly. What was the motivation and what were the results?

         My hubby has the habit of scouring the roadside as he drives. Over the years and kilometres, he's spotted many an accident. He's rescued stranded travellers from simple engine stalls, crashes, injuries, and miscalculations re fuel supply.

         During a family trip down a dirt backroad that caused our kids to squeal with glee as their stomachs seemed to drop to their feet, Paul braked suddenly and threw our car into reverse. Of course, we questioned why. As he pulled into a u-turn and stopped opposite a long curving driveway , we saw the reason. Off amongst the trees, a large station wagon type vehicle rested about a hundred metres from the road. He warned us to stay put and he fought his way through the thick underbrush.

         Paul discovered a shaking woman at the wheel and two teenaged girls in the backseat. He shouted his intentions to force the doors open, but first he had to manhandle a few tree stumps away from the body of the wagon. I must mention that my hubby owned a car restoration business and knew his cars. He immediately recognized that this particular model's windows opened electrically and the car's engine wasn't running. The people were trapped unable to escape via those closed windows, or the locked and blocked doors.

         He freed them and helped them to our car. One of the poor girls had a wire dental halo encircling her head and it cut into her cheeks and mouth after her face striking the back of a seat.

         When the sobbing eased, the still breathless driver pointed at the driveway and dropped a bomb. It was her home up that hill. Her husband was up there oblivious to this accident. She and the girls were expected to be shopping in the nearby city for hours. This happened in pre cell phone times so she could not call for help. I cannot fathom being trapped in my sedan within sight of my own driveway.

         Eagle-eyed Paul had spied them.As I mentioned, this is just one of his many rescues.