An Uber Driver Pulled Over Mid-Ride To Rescue People From A Burning Building
August 23, 2022
An Uber driver in New York City is being hailed as a hero after helping two people escape a burning building in Brooklyn.
Fritz Sam
Fritz Sam, 54, said he was taking a passenger to LaGuardia Airport last Wednesday morning when he came across a four-story apartment building that was on fire.
Sam said he noticed flames coming out of a second-floor window but did not see any first responders at the scene yet, so he sprung into action.
"I asked my passenger, 'Can I pull over? Maybe we can help'," he told TODAY. "So we got out of the car and ran over there."
"When I thought there might be someone inside that building, there was something in me that couldn't hold back, and I just had to go inside," Sam said.
Jemimah James Wei via Twitter
His passenger, Jemma Wei, was in awe of his heroism. She snapped a photo of the flames pouring out of the second-floor window and said she and others on the street began yelling to alert residents of the fire.
Sam located a woman on the second floor and a man on the first floor and accompanied both to safety, he told CNN.
According to both Sam and Wei, firefighters arrived shortly after the last resident exited the building. Sam comforted the residents and made sure they were okay before returning to his car to finish the Uber ride to the airport.
"On the way to the airport this morning and drove by a burning building, my Uber driver LEAPT out of the car and INTO the building while the rest of us screamed at the top of our lungs for people to evacuate, the first truck came, we rushed to the airport, I made my flight," Wei posted on Twitter.
Uber also acknowledged Sam's act of heroism.
"We're incredibly grateful to have such a heroic and thoughtful member of our community in Fritz," an Uber spokeswoman said in an email to The Washington Post. The spokeswoman confirmed that the company is giving Sam a one-year Tesla rental — his daughters' dream car.
Uber also honored him with a "hometown hero" award.
Click Here For The Most Popular On Sunny Skyz
Cat Realizes The Outside Life Is Not For Him, Rings Doorbell And Begs To Be Let In
Truck Driver Leaves Toy For Person Who Always Waves As They Drive Past
Two Grinning Brothers Unaware That They Were Minutes Away From Being Struck By Lightning While Climbing Moro Rock
Top 10 Childish Things Grown Men Still Do -- And Still Enjoy Doing
A 2,000 Year Old Giant Cat Geoglyph Has Been Discovered In Peru
Man Grows A Giant Pumpkin, Rides It Down A River On His Birthday, Breaks World Record
Missing Cat Rings Family's Doorbell
A Coyote Finds A Squeaky Toy Outside. Turns Out Coyotes Love Squeaky Toys Too
Woman Captures Wholesome Family Moment On A Rainy Day
Hilarious Video Shows Cat Slapping Seals
That Time Michael Jackson Shocked The Crowd With His Deep Voice During A Performance
