Marine Rescues Infant From Burning Car
Gunnery Sgt. Kyle Wetter
‘I don’t think I’m special’ says Marine who rescued a baby from a burning car
“I was like ‘I need to help her get her baby out of the car.”
BY JAMES CLARK
On Dec. 7, Marine Gunnery Sgt. Kyle Wetter was on a winding road through Fallbrook, California in the early evening when the car in front of him crashed into a fuel canister that had fallen off the back of a truck. The collision sent sparks into the air, caused the fuel to leak, and quickly set the vehicle alight.
The vehicle was carrying a family of three, and as Wetter pulled up behind the now-burning car on the side of the road, he saw a man move around to the passenger side, and a woman standing outside the vehicle.
“My baby is in the car! My baby is in the car!’” she yelled.
An infant was trapped in a car seat in the back — the seat belt had become locked in place and wouldn’t unlatch.
BZ Gunny, dammed well done. Read the rest of the article, and don’t miss the video, here: Task and Purpose
Category: Bravo Zulu, Marines, Veterans in the news
Can’t say it any better.
When this infant grows up, he or she will be among the few who know the name of their guardian angel.
He carried a knife with him.
Let that sink in for a moment.
Guardian Angel indeed.
Job well down but let’s not over dramatize it.
“Wetter then helped the couple remove what belongings they could from the vehicle before it was fully consumed in flames. Within five minutes the car was a smoldering ruin…”
Saw this on the local news. That dude’s a hero!
As I’ve often said, cars don’t explode, but they do burn very rapidly. Personally I think burning is a much scarier way to go than a blast anyway. Having seen firsthand how rapidly fire will spread through a passenger vehicle, I can tell you with certainty that Gunny Wetter was getting pretty warm as he performed the rescue. Without any kind of PPE, he stayed in place and handled shit. I’m surprised he’s able to walk with those big steel balls clanging in his pants.
I’ve been around a few car fires as well.
No Hollyweird explosions, but hot and fast and very scary.
“It’s what I would expect anyone to do.” Welp, you might expect it, but it don’t always happen.
Well done, indeed, Marine. Draw yourself an extra Grog Ration…and a 64 count box of Crayolas.
I’ve toted a pocket knife since I was 6, except for the FIRST few weeks of Basic when it was confiscated at Reception. Prolly got enough of ’em layin’ around to fill a 5 gallon bucket. Even an assortment of “Gentleman’s Pen Knives” for those times when I had to play suit. “Better to have and not need…”
Got a Swiss Army knife that goes in my pocket every day. Every damn day. Ever seen one with the symbol worn off?
Lost one at Basic, but can chronicle which knives I carried in every year since 1970. Usually two, one for general use, one for social reasons.
Ditto, KoB. And so do all my kids and the older grandchildren.
I am carrying today:
1 Gerber multitool (2 blades)
1 CRKT M16-13SFG
1 Buck 3-blade pocket knife replacing the one I wore out (!) after being given it by my baby brother nigh on 30 years ago.
That’s my “church carry” set.
My kids are multi-tool carriers as well, and the grands each have one at least to learn to use.
Rule 9, always have a knife. Outstanding job there Marine.
Way to go, Gunny.
Job well done Kyle. I live outside of Fallbrook and most roads are winding two laners with no light…
My very first campaign fire was in Fallbrook back in ‘01. I was a junior in high school and had to get a note afterwards for missing four days of school. It’s a nasty area to drive, also a nasty area for wildland fire. A town of 30,000 people with only a couple of ways in and out. Luckily it doesn’t burn too often. De Luz is also the station nobody ever wants to get stuck with as a cover assignment.