13-year-old Jordan Rice is being referred to as a hero this week after he gave his life to save his 10-year-old brother in a terrible tragedy in Australia this week.
Jordan, his mom and his younger brother were driving through an intersection in Australia at about 2pm Monday when their car engine stopped after the vehicle was submerged in water. Jordan’s mom called triple zero for help but the water began climbing too quickly and the three of them were forced to get on the roof of the vehicle.
While Jordan, his brother Blake and their mom Donna waited, many bystanders watched in horror. Only one man decided to help the victims.
“All these people were just standing around until an old scrawny guy grabbed a bit of rope, wrapped it around himself and jumped in” Mr. Tyson, Donna’s partner, told reporters.
“Jordan can’t swim and is terrified of water but when the man went to rescue him, he said ‘save my brother first.”
The man was able to save Blake but the rope broke and Donna and Jordan were swept downstream. According to reports, the two were able to briefly hang onto a tree but were eventually swept away by the force of the water.
“I can only imagine what was going on inside to give up his life to save his brother, even though he was petrified of water,” Tyson said. “He is our little hero.”
Jordan is a hero – and so is the man who risked his own life to save the three people.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to Mr. Tyson, Blake, their family and friends and everyone else affected by this terrible tragedy.
Donate to the flood relief appeal here.
