Man saw a distraught stranger running towards his car — he took a closer look at her face and quickly called 911

The man initially thought he saw a deer, but his astute observation and action saved a life.

PUBLISHED 1 DAY AGO

(L) Man looking outside suspiciously while driving. (R) Young distressed woman frantically running. (Representative Cover Image Source: (L) Unsplash | Michael Kahn; (R) Cole Miller)

Trigger Warning - This copy contains themes of assault and abuse that some may find distressing.

It was just a regular day for Earl Melchert, a resident of Minnesota, until a life-saving observation and quick action made him a real-life hero, per BBC News. Melchert saw a then-15-year-old girl, Jasmine Block, running towards his car. When he looked closely, he realized something crucial and immediately called the emergency services. In doing so, he managed to save the girl’s life.

Man spotting something unusual while driving. (Representative Image Source: Pexels| Photo by Norma Mortenson)

Melchert was driving back to his isolated home, claiming he had forgotten something, per CBS Minnesota. As he was driving, he saw something approaching him really fast. Initially, he thought it was a deer. “I could see her, but I couldn't tell what it was,” he recalled. Melchert drove towards the movement and was stunned to see 15-year-old Block. He quickly recognized her. "I could make out her face and I went, 'Oh my gosh, this is the girl from Alexandria that's been gone for 29 days,’” he recalled. Block had been reportedly abducted by a family acquaintance. She was locked up in a house where she was physically and sexually assaulted for 28 days, reported the publication.

Teenage girl kidnapped. (Representative Image Source: Unsplash| Photo by James Kovin)

According to MOCHIP (Missouri Child Identification Programme), around 2,000 kids are reported kidnapped in the United States every day. Out of these, 81% are reportedly teenagers who are 12 years and above. Luckily, in Block's case, the teenager managed to escape from the house where the suspects had kept her. She ran to several neighbors’ houses, knocking on their doors, but didn’t receive any response, per The New York Times. Finally, she had to swim across the lake to get to the area where Melchert’s property was. When he spotted and recognized her, he immediately dialed 911.

Young woman frantically making her way through isolated forest. (Representative Image Source: Unsplash| Photo by Brad pearson)

The girl quickly received help and was saved, thanks to Melchert. The kidnappers were arrested and charged, per the publication. However, when Melchert was called to be rewarded, he had a striking response. In a post shared by the Alexandria Police Department on Facebook, he refused a cash reward. Melchert suggested that the $9,000 be given to Block and her family, who probably needed it, given the situation they had just come out of. He also noted that he was just trying to do his best to help. “I was at the right place at the right time,” he remarked. Speaking of his experience, he also noted that it was the “best thing” he’d ever done.

The police department shared Melchert’s selfless reason for refusing the money in the post. They commended him, saying, “What no one expected was the kindness and generosity that came straight from Earl’s heart today. He believes that the young lady who came running towards him is the real hero and without hesitation, Earl handed the reward over to her, followed by a big hug. Thank you, Earl, it is people like you that make this world a better place.”