Hardus Oberholzer is one of the thousands of first responders who worked around the clock to save lives when Hurricane Ian slammed into Florida in September 2022.
The St. Augustine Fire Department reportedly performed 26 lifesaving missions and rescues during and after the storm, mostly for area residents who didn’t think Ian would be as bad as it turned out to be.
But there was one particular rescue that really tugged at Hardus’ heartstrings… and it got captured in a powerful picture.
The photo, which was snapped by another rescue worker, shows Hardus clutching a little girl as he strides through deep water to safety. Looking back, Hardus said this rescue meant a lot to him because the child is the same age as his own youngest son.
“She’ll have a little piece of my heart forever,” he said. “It’s something in their eyes. When they truly are at their worst, we show up and have to be at our best every time. Something I’ll remember for the rest of my life, and I hope they do too.”
Thank you Hardus, for being the kindest hero for this precious little girl!
Watch the video below to learn more about his story, and don’t forget to share.
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