A brave California motorist pulled over to rescue a rabbit from a monster wildfire, when a news photographer, who happened to be in Ventura County covering the Thomas Fire, captured the moment the unnamed driver risked his life to save a tiny rabbit from the flames.
The Good Samaritan had stopped his car along Highway 1 and tried to grab the animal but he hopped away. He was getting closer to the raging inferno that has engulfed the entire landscape around them.
In harm’s way: This brave California motorist pulled over in Ventura County to rescue a rabbit from a monster wildfire on Wednesday
Animal lover: The man in shorts and a hoodie stopped his car along Highway 1 after spotting the rabbit and tried to grab it
Hopping with fear: The seemingly anxious rescuer jumped up and down after the rabbit got away from him, inching closer to the flames
The man’s courageous act and compassion can be seen. The motorist, a young man wearing a red hooded sweatshirt and a pair of athletic shorts, appears increasingly anxious for the rabbit’s safety. He jumps up and down a couple of times and desperately tries to capture it.
A few seconds later, the seemingly doomed rabbit finally approaches its rescuer.
The man finally gently scoops up the furry animal, cradles it in his arms and tries to make it comfortable. The photographer said that the valiant animal lover did not want to be interviewed at the scene.
Social media users viewed the video of the rabbit’s improbable rescue and hailed the anonymous man a hero for putting himself in harm’s way to save an animal’s life.
Waiting with open arms: The man desperately tried to lure the woodland creature amid the raging Thomas Fire
Success: A few tense seconds later, the seemingly doomed rabbit approached its rescuer
Compassion: The man gently scooped up the furry animal, cradled it in his arms and tried to make it feel comfortable
Anonymous hero: The valiant animal lover declined to be interviewed at the scene
The Thomas Fire is the largest of the area’s wildfires and so far has charred more than 250,000 acres and destroyed more than 1,300 homes.
It has caused some 50,000 residents of Ventura County to flee their homes and the inferno continued its westward push forcing a few hundred Santa Barbara County residents to be evacuated and the closing of coastal Highway 101 north of Ventura city.
Firefighters work to extinguish the Thomas Fire as it burns past the 101 Highway towards the Pacific Coast Highway in Ventura, California, December 7
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