Florida dad saves two toddlers who wandered into traffic
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A Florida father of five is being praised for a split-second decision that likely prevented a tragedy after he rushed into traffic to rescue two toddlers who had wandered onto a busy roadway.
John Brittingham was driving along State Road A1A in Brevard County on Sunday, Jan. 11, when he noticed two very young children standing in the middle of the road.
Dashcam footage later shared with local media shows Brittingham pulling over immediately, stepping into traffic, and stopping cars with one hand as he picked up the first child. Seconds later, he lifted the second toddler as she reached her arms toward him.
Man jumps out of his car and saves 2 toddlers from getting hit after they walked into the middle of a busy road in Brevard County, Florida.
pic.twitter.com/8h3GlfDqCh“I was terrified thinking of what could have happened to them,” Brittingham told NBC affiliate WESH. “The rest of my life would have been ruined.”
The entire rescue took only a few seconds, but Brittingham said the adrenaline rush stayed with him long after. A father and grandfather, he said his instincts took over when he realized how vulnerable the children were.
After moving the girls to safety, Brittingham began searching for their family. He knocked on the door of a nearby Airbnb but received no response. Walking around the property, he noticed an open back gate, which he believes is how the toddlers escaped without being noticed.
Inside, Brittingham found an elderly couple and a young girl, who appeared shocked when he explained what had happened.
“They immediately went into, ‘Oh my God, we’re so sorry,’” he recalled. “I told them I was just glad I could get the girls back safely. They were out in the road, and the gate was open.”
According to Brittingham, the adults had no idea the toddlers were missing at the time. He did not report the incident to authorities because the children were reunited with their family almost immediately.
The Brevard County Sheriff’s Office later confirmed that an investigation into the incident is ongoing, though officials say there is no indication of criminal activity. Because the family was visiting from out of state, the Georgia Division of Family and Children Services has also been notified as part of standard procedure.
No injuries were reported, and Brittingham says he is simply grateful he arrived when he did.