Jane Richard may have lost her leg in the bombing, but she owes her life to the heroic actions of an off-duty firefighter who raced to save her. Check out the harrowing video from the scene.
Jane Richard is a 7-year-old ballerina who tragically lost her leg in the April 15 Boston Marathon Bombing. The explosion could have taken little Jane’s life, but she was saved by a courageous off-duty firefighter who ran into the chaos to carry her to safety.
Jane Richard’s Rescue: The Video
Jane’s guardian angel was 30-year-old off-duty firefighter Matt Patterson, who lept into action as soon as he saw the 7-year-old lying in the street. Matt and his girlfriend were having lunch at a nearby restaurant when the explosion happened.
“This child for some reason just jumped at me — it was tunnel vision,” Matt explained. “I could see the damage. I could see that she needed a tourniquet. She needed surgery, it was obvious from what I saw.”
The firefighter added, “I go up to a business guy and ask for his belt, he hands it over without hesitation. I have to stop the bleeding. I am making the tourniquet and another man comes and I ask him to hold it for pressure. I’m looking up and down the street — looking for where I can bring the child to an ambulance or more care.”
Although Matt was able to save Jane’s life, the dancer lost her leg in the explosion. Jane began taking Irish dance lessons at the Clifton Academy of Irish Dance at the age of three. Several Irish dance groups are raising money to support Jane after the accident.
“She is just a beautiful little girl. We taught her since she was a baby, pointing her little toe,” Eileen Dillon Dinn, owner of the Clifton Academy, said. ”We are just in a state of shock and disbelief. The Richard family is lovely. They went to the marathon as a happy family, and then this happened. We don't know what to say.”
– William Earl
More On Martin Richard’s Family & The Boston Marathon Bombing:
- Martin Richard’s Death — Firefighter Matt Patterson Desperately Tried To Save Him
- Boston Marathon: Bomb Planted One Foot Away From Martin Richard's Family — Mother & Sister Badly Injured
- Martin Richard's Dad Speaks About Son's Death — Boston Explosions’ Youngest Victim
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