A supermarket manager in Mexico is being hailed as a hero after dramatic surveillance video captured him sprinting into a busy roadway and rescuing a toddler just seconds before she was nearly struck by a vehicle.
The frightening incident happened outside the El Rey del Ahorro supermarket in Puebla on Sept. 6.
Security footage shows the little girl suddenly running full speed into the street as vehicles traveled past. Bystanders could be seen watching in horror as the child moved directly into traffic.
That is when store manager Luis Cruz sprang into action.
Cruz raced toward the girl and managed to scoop her up just before a silver minivan reached them. The momentum sent him into a rolling motion on the pavement, but he was able to keep hold of the child and get her out of danger.
He then handed the toddler back to people who appeared to be her parents.
Even after the dramatic rescue, Cruz simply returned to work.
Video shows him limping slightly as he walked back toward the pallet jack he had been using before the emergency and picked up where he left off.
WATCH THE VIDEO BELOW:
The supermarket later praised Cruz for his quick thinking and bravery, naming him Manager of the Year and awarding him 20,000 pesos, or about $1,184.
“In a world where indifference often defines one’s ‘aura,’ you demonstrated today that your aura is that of a true HERO,” the store wrote in a social media post translated from Spanish.
The company said Cruz had done far more than protect the business or complete a job.
“Today, you didn’t just save a result, a sale, or an operation. Today, you saved a life,” the message continued.
The store also rejected the idea that Cruz was simply lucky enough to be nearby.
“To many, it might seem like you were simply in the right place at the right time,” the company wrote. “But we know it was more than that. It was about being attentive. It was about reacting. It was about not standing idly by when a little girl was seconds away from a tragedy.”
The supermarket said no financial reward or recognition could truly compare with what Cruz did.
“No plaque, recognition, or award could ever measure up to the life you helped preserve,” the company added.
The video has since drawn attention online, with viewers praising Cruz for reacting instantly when the toddler’s life was in danger.
