SAN JOSÉ, California – Many emotions were experienced on Thursday in a reunion made possible by TELEMUNDO 48 between a San José firefighter and the Salinas family whom he saved from death, after its members were trapped in a vehicle that fell to a canal in Morgan Hill.
Antonio López and his brother were driving on Highway 101 on September 1, when they realized that a car had fallen into a canal.
Without thinking twice, the two firefighters jumped into the water to save the four family members who had sunk and been trapped inside their vehicle, which had been hit by a drunk driver.
“You could hear the screams of people asking for help, my brother Alejandro and I jumped into the water… it was quite deep,” recalled Antonio, a San José firefighter.
This heroic feat saved the lives of José Ibarra, his wife and two young children.
“Well, the simple truth is that I don’t think there are words to describe what one is feeling, one is very grateful, very lucky to be here and have another opportunity to live,” said José.
“Yes, it is something very difficult, but I am very grateful,” said Yamilex López, José’s wife.
José, Yamilex, and little Everly and Jeremiah, lived to tell their story.
“I see them happy, smiling, the mother very excited, it is difficult for the father to remember that he was very brave and heroic by simply asking them to save his family,” said Antonio.
During the reunion, the rescued family took the opportunity to have fun on a ride on Antonio’s fire truck.
“If it weren’t for this meeting… I wouldn’t have known who he is,” José said gratefully.
