Three Florida teens are being praised as heroes after noticing that something was seriously wrong with a man stranded on the side of the road — and their quick thinking may have saved his life.
Logan Royer, 16, Cody Magrone, 16, and Brody Murray, 17, were sitting inside a McDonald’s in Cooper City when they noticed 65-year-old Diego Fernandez-Delgado dealing with a flat tire on South Flamingo Road after one of his tires blew out.
His phone had died, leaving him stranded and trying to change the tire by himself. That’s when the three teens stepped in to help. But they quickly realized this situation involved more than just a flat tire.
With temperatures rising into the 90s, they noticed Fernandez-Delgado seemed seriously unwell and suspected he could be experiencing a heat-related medical emergency. The teens immediately called 911 and stayed with him while waiting for emergency responders to arrive, following dispatch instructions to keep him as comfortable and safe as possible.
“There’s an older man on the side of the road. We helped him change a tire, and he does not feel good at all,” one of the teens can be heard saying in a recording of the emergency call, according to reports.
Their quick action likely saved his life
According to the Broward County Sheriff’s Office, Fernandez-Delgado was “too ill to speak on the phone” and was reportedly feeling weak, struggling to breathe, and experiencing chest pain.
Body camera footage later showed the three teens standing beside Fernandez-Delgado as he waited for medical help to arrive. Officials now believe their fast response may have prevented a tragedy.
“First responders indicated that the students’ quick action likely saved his life,” the sheriff’s office said, revealing that Fernandez-Delgado had been showing early signs of a heart attack.
Thankfully, he has since recovered from the heat-related emergency and is now recovering at home.
“God put us there to help this guy out”
The teens’ actions also had a profound impact on Fernandez-Delgado’s family.
“God didn’t send angels with wings,” his son, Cristian Fernandez, said. “He sent those boys.”
The Broward County Sheriff’s Office also praised the teens for stepping in when they saw someone in need.
“Their actions serve as a powerful reminder,” the department said. “Sometimes, the difference between life and death starts with simply choosing to step in and help.”
Speaking with Good Morning America this week, the teens said helping someone in need simply felt like the right thing to do.
“It didn’t cost anything to be a good person,” they said.
Murray added: “I think what we did was very fortunate. It was just the right place at the right time, and maybe God put us there to help someone who needed it.”
