Fireman Who Rescued 6-Year-Old Boy From Massacre Shows Up At Hospital To Bring Him Home

Sep 05, 2018 by apost team

The world was horrified by the barbaric shooting that took place at First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs in November of 2017. The gunman who targeted the church ended up slaughtering more than 26 innocent people, including children. With the most casualties for a church shooting in U.S. history, the massacre was a real tragedy. 

A local firefighter arrived on the scene shortly after the mass shooting took place. He was Rusty Duncan, who serves with the Stockdale Volunteer Fire Department.

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“I was just checking for survivors, and I felt a little tug on my pant leg,” he told the San Antonio Express-News. “I looked down and a little hand was coming from under somebody.”

It turned out to be a small, traumatized six-year-old boy by the name of Ryland Ward.

Thankfully, Ryland would survive the shooting, thanks to the sacrificial love of his stepmother, Joann Ward. She placed her body over Ryland's in an attempt to keep the bullets from harming him. Ryland did end up suffering five gunshot wounds which landed him in the hospital for weeks. 

“His arm’s messed up where he was shot,” said his grandmother Sandra Ward in an interview with NBC News. “His lower intestine, his bladder — it just goes on and on.”

When he arrived at the gut-wrenching scene of the massacre, Duncan gently lifted the hurt boy into the ambulance. He was transported to University Hospital in San Antonio where he would spend the next couple of months receiving treatment for his extensive injuries.

Strangers all over the world contributed to Ryland's medical treatment costs, raising around $160,000 on GoFundMe to help pay for his care.

Duncan continued to faithfully visit Ryland while he was hospitalized. 

Duncan recalled the first time he saw Ryland in the hospital. He saw the frail child in a wagon being pulled along with his many medical monitors in tow. He asked if Ryland knew who he was. 

A relative of Ryland, Earl McMahan, vividly remembers the touching scene. He said that the two stared at one another for a long time and everyone in the lobby began to cry at the touching moment.

Duncan returned to see Ryland leave the hospital. He wanted the boy to have a memorable ride home, so he brought along a fire truck that led a 100-vehicle procession!

What do you think about this heartwarming end to a horrific story? Do you believe in the triumph of good over evil? We'd love to read your thoughts! Pass this story along to show the power of love in the midst of tragedy.