Caught on Video: UPS Driver Saves 4-Year-Old Boy Pinned by 97-Lb Package
It’s a precious thing when a tot wants to help their parents with small tasks around the house, especially when there’s more than one tot for whom the busy parent must care.
Traci Pratt was busy with her son’s 2-year-old sister upstairs one Saturday morning in their Oak Park, Illinois home.
So when 4-year-old Max heard the doorbell ring, he decided he was going to be a help to Mom and be a good big brother and answer the door.
When he opened the door, he found a package that the UPS driver dropped off.
Max was apparently unfazed by the fact the package was taller than he was, and likely wasn’t aware that it weighed about 97 pounds.
He just saw an opportunity to help Mom by bringing the package inside.
A security door camera caught the rest of the story when little Max attempted to grab the package.
The package tipped over, but he was able to hold his own for several seconds as he called out, “Help, help!”
The UPS driver, who had nearly made it back to his truck, heard the boy’s faint cry.
He turned just in time to see little Max crumble under the weight of the box. Max was pinned to the porch railing.
Max let out a cry of pain, and likely also terror.
The UPS driver dashed across the street and sprinted up the sidewalk. As soon as he reached the porch, he lifted the package off of Max.
The security footage was later posted online, went viral, and WBBM followed up on the story.
“I pictured my boys in his situation. Obviously, you go into kind of into full parent mode or full dad mode to make sure the kid is all right,” UPS driver Marco Angel told WBBM.
“He didn’t think twice. He didn’t even look for traffic,” Max’s dad said. “He came sprinting. It was pretty cool.”
“I was saying, ‘Help!’ and then the package man just came back and lifted the box,” Max said.
In light of the scary situation, Angel’s name really resonated with Max’s mom.
“You are our angel, the way you flew in and helped him,” Traci Pratt said.
Pratt said that Angel asked her if Max was ok, and then insisted on taking the package inside for her.
“I went to get the package and he was like, ‘No, no, no. I’m taking it inside for you. Where do you want me to put it?'” Pratt told CNN. “He was so nice.”
Pratt said that Max wasn’t injured, though Max said he experienced a little “ouchie.”
“I think he just saw all four years of his life flash before his eyes more than anything,” Pratt said.
Max’s parents said they’ve talked to him about making sure he gets help in the future when boxes are that big, and told him not to go to the door by himself.
That particular box had a hammock in it, which Max has decided he doesn’t like at all.
“I told her not to get it,” said Max. “I’ve already fallen out of it three times.”
