Heroes come in many shapes and sizes. A teen is being celebrated for heroically saving several people in a flash flood in Boca Raton, Florida. Thanks to his quick thinking, several stranded drivers lived.
Speaking with WPTV, 18-year-old Thomas Ruzzano explained he was on a date with his girlfriend at the movie theater. That's when it started to storm outside. The area quickly experienced flash flooding bringing more than eight inches of rain.
"During the movie, we just heard lightning, pouring the whole movie, and then on the way out, we're in a flood," Ruzzano said. "We were going down the road, and we just see cars backed up. The whole roundabout, the whole entire garage, everything, even the bathrooms in the movie theaters, flooded."
Flash Flooding
There was more than two feet of water in the parking garage. Realizing people were trapped in the flash flooding, the teen ran to their aid. He helped six or seven people.
"I went from car to car," he said. The teen wanted to make sure everyone was okay in the flash flood. Others also quickly helped, and together, they rescued an elderly man who was trapped with water up to his shoulders.
"He was actually stuck in the car, and we had to help him out. I think he was a little lost of the whole situation, so we helped him," Ruzzano told WPTV. "He was trying to push the car after we got him out, and we were like, 'No sir. We just have to get you to safety, make sure you're okay.' We brought him to a restaurant nearby and just made sure he's okay."
"He always taught me and raised me right," he said. "It's very fortunate how things played out."
The teen said that the people helped during the flash flood were thankful. He said, "They were just very thankful, and they kept telling me how lucky they were to have me there."
