Not every superhero wears a cape.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Sometimes they’re dressed as Spider-Man, driving home from work in a red Jeep, when they spot someone who needs help.
That’s exactly what happened in Jonesboro, Arkansas, where a traffic camera captured an unforgettable act of kindness after a man dressed in the iconic Marvel suit jumped into action to help a wheelchair user safely cross six busy lanes of traffic before the lights changed.
The footage has since gone viral, with many calling the mystery Spider-Man a real-life superhero.
The man behind the mask was later identified as 20-year-old Christopher Hellenthal, who had just finished working at Ultimate Air Trampoline Park after taking part in a superhero-themed event. Still wearing his Spider-Man costume, he was stopped at a red light when he noticed a man in a wheelchair struggling to make it across the road.
Without thinking twice, he jumped out of his Jeep.
“I got you,” he called, before rushing over to help, the New York Post reports.
The dramatic rescue unfolded in just a matter of seconds. Hellenthal quickly pushed the wheelchair user across the crosswalk before the traffic lights changed and the waiting vehicles began moving again.
The timing was incredibly tight. After getting the man safely to the other side, Hellenthal sprinted back across the road to his Jeep, which had been left waiting in the traffic lane.
Reflecting on the moment, he admitted there was one amusing thought running through his head.
Speaking to local media, he explained that he simply reacted to what he saw.
“I just happened to be at the right spot whenever that man was trying to get across the road and I just had to jump in there and save him,” he told WBBJ 7 Eyewitness News. “I just got out and tried to wing them across before the light turned green really fast.
“And I just got back in my vehicle and drove off.”
The Jonesboro Police Department later shared security camera footage of the rescue on Facebook, where it quickly attracted tens of thousands of likes and widespread praise.
Police thanked Hellenthal for stepping in to help the wheelchair user safely navigate the busy intersection.
Even the department admitted it wasn’t something officers see every day.
“Not in my 7 years in the department have I witnessed this,” department spokesperson Sally Smith told reporters.
While viewers celebrated the heartwarming moment, plenty also joked that the only thing missing was Spider-Man striking his signature superhero pose before driving away.
Although the internet was only just discovering him, Hellenthal’s colleagues weren’t remotely surprised.
Hellenthal’s act of kindness is yet another reminder that with great power comes great responsibility.
Featured image credit: Jonesboro Police Department
