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Many individuals carry the hope that, in a disaster, they will be the one to assist as many people as possible. They dream of being the hero, not someone who flees. However, it's impossible to know if you would run or stay and help until you're faced with a life-or-death choice.
The courageous individuals on this list confronted devastation and death, but chose to stay and fight.
10. Women and Children First
When the RMS Titanic began sinking in the frigid early hours of April 15, 1912, chief baker Charles Joughin realized he wouldn’t survive. Rather than panicking, he rallied the other chefs to help pack food and supplies into lifeboats. After finishing this task, he assisted women and children in boarding lifeboats, even ‘throwing’ those who resisted leaving the doomed ship into the boats to ensure their survival. Additionally, he threw deck chairs overboard, hoping those unable to board the lifeboats would have something to hold onto.
It is believed that Joughin was the last person to leave the Titanic, holding onto the safety railing as the ship sank into the icy waters of the Atlantic Ocean, a chilling -2°C (28°F). The baker endured nearly three hours in the freezing sea before being rescued, suffering only from swollen feet. Prior to the ship's sinking, he drank a significant amount of whisky, which is thought to have provided some warmth to his body, helping him survive the bitter cold.
9. When Tragedy Strikes
On June 24, 2021, Miami’s idyllic beach paradise was turned into a scene of destruction and sorrow when the 12-story Champlain Towers South condominium partially collapsed, claiming the lives of 98 people. Among the four people rescued from the debris, one succumbed to their injuries in the hospital. Thirty-five others were rescued from the remaining structure, while another 11 were injured.
While out walking his dog, Nicholas Balboa felt what seemed like an earthquake. In a state of shock, he realized the nearby building was crumbling. When he heard a child's cries for help, he rushed toward the collapsing structure. Upon spotting a hand reaching out from the wreckage, he and another individual climbed the massive pile of rubble and were soon joined by emergency responders. They rescued the boy, who had been trapped under his bed frame. Fifteen-year-old Jonah Handler survived, though tragically, he lost his mother in the disaster.
8. A Day of Fear
On December 26, 2004, heroes emerged in the wake of the Indian Ocean earthquake, which triggered a devastating tsunami that ravaged coastlines, villages, and cities, claiming nearly 230,000 lives. Ten-year-old Tilly Smith, vacationing in Phuket with her family, had recently watched a video of the 1946 Hawaii tsunami in her geography class. As the tsunami loomed, Tilly recognized the signs and urgently warned her family. Her father took action, alerting the resort staff who evacuated the beach. Tilly’s quick thinking helped save about 100 lives that day.
Peter Davison, a paramedic from Hobart, learned of the tsunami while still reeling from the initial earthquake. Without hesitation, he rushed to the Phuket International Hospital, where he activated their disaster response plan. For five days, Davison worked 16-hour shifts alongside his team, treating severely injured patients and maintaining order amidst the chaos. His tireless dedication earned him recognition as a hero for his role in providing crucial care during the crisis.
7. The Tragedy That Shaped America Forever
As the smoke billowed from the World Trade Center, fear and confusion gripped the air. Many were trapped above the impact zones, and elevators plummeted. In their desperation, some jumped from shattered windows. Amid the heartbreak and loss, a few brave individuals risked everything to help others. Here are just some of those courageous souls who made a difference on that tragic day.
Benjamin Clark, a 39-year-old former Marine and chef, became a hero during the 9/11 attacks when he assisted those trapped on the 96th floor of the South Tower. On his way down, he encountered a woman in a wheelchair and immediately offered his help. Tragically, Clark perished when the South Tower collapsed, leaving behind his wife and five children. His selfless act of bravery, along with many others that day, saved countless lives at the cost of his own.
Thomas Burnett, a passenger aboard the hijacked United Airlines Flight 93, devised a courageous plan with several other passengers to wrest control of the aircraft. While the plane ultimately crashed in Pennsylvania, Burnett and his fellow passengers were hailed as heroes for their brave actions, which are credited with thwarting the hijackers’ plan to crash the plane into either the White House or the Capitol building.
William Rodriguez, a maintenance worker at the World Trade Center, was in the basement of the North Tower when the attack occurred. He ascended the stairs alongside firefighters, unlocking doors to aid their progress, and played a vital role in rescuing hundreds of lives in the process.
6. 'Come, I’m here!'
On March 15, 2019, Brenton Harrison Tarrant, a 28-year-old gunman, entered the Al Noor Mosque in Riccarton, New Zealand, and opened fire indiscriminately. He then proceeded to the Linwood Islamic Center, continuing his rampage. The tragic attack resulted in 51 fatalities and left 40 others wounded.
At 48 years old, Abdul Aziz didn’t hesitate to face down the gunman during the attack on the Linwood Mosque. With his four sons and countless others inside, he grabbed the first object he could find—a credit card machine—and charged out into the open, shouting, 'Come, I’m here!' before throwing the machine at the shooter.
Aziz then grabbed a firearm that the attacker, Tarrant, had discarded, hurling it at the gunman's car window. All the while, Tarrant fired at him, but Aziz skillfully dodged between parked cars, keeping his eyes locked on the shooter. Ultimately, Tarrant fled in his vehicle, and Aziz pursued him. Police soon intervened, forcing the car off the road and capturing Tarrant.
Abdul Aziz has been hailed as a hero for his quick actions, which prevented further loss of life inside the Linwood Mosque and played a pivotal role in ensuring the terrorist’s capture.
5. 'It wasn’t hard.'
The tragic attack on Pearl Harbor marked a turning point in American history, leading the nation into World War II. The surprise Japanese strike destroyed nearly 20 naval ships and 200 aircraft, resulting in the deaths of over 2,400 American soldiers and leaving 1,000 more wounded.
Third Class cook Doris Miller was in the midst of collecting laundry when chaos erupted on December 7, 1941. He rushed to his battle station only to find it had been torpedoed, and then he dashed to the deck, carrying wounded soldiers to safety. Miller also supplied ammunition to two machine gun teams and manned one of the guns, firing for 15 minutes until it was out of ammo, despite having no formal weapons training. At just 22 years old, he became the first African American to receive the Navy Cross for his bravery. In his own words, Miller later remarked, 'It wasn’t hard... I just pulled the trigger and she worked fine.'
4. 'I was just doing what I was taught to do.'
The sinking of the Lusitania on May 7, 1915, caused by a German torpedo, remains one of the most horrific tragedies of World War I. Nearly 1,200 lives were lost as the ship split in two following a secondary explosion. In just 18 minutes, the Lusitania sank, leaving passengers to struggle for survival in the frigid ocean waters.
Able Seamen Joseph Parry and Leslie Morton did their utmost to save those around them as the ship went down. They managed to rescue 100 people from the cold water, aided by Irish fishermen who also came to their aid. Among those rescued by Parry was a young mother clutching her crying baby, who, in her gratitude, gave him one of the baby's booties. Parry kept it as a memento, writing 'Lest We Forget Lusitania May 7, 1915' on the sole. Tragically, the mother and child both died shortly after.
Another survivor later recalled seeing Parry calmly braiding a young woman's hair to comfort her. Parry was awarded the Silver Board of Trade Medal for Gallantry, and after the ordeal, he humbly said, 'I was just doing what I was taught to do.'
3. For the Sake of Saving Hundreds of Thousands of Lives
In the wake of the catastrophic Chernobyl disaster, the immediate aftermath saw numerous lives lost. Within just 10 days, another perilous threat emerged in the form of nuclear steam explosions. These explosions had the potential to reach as far as Minsk, which is 320 kilometers (198 miles) away from Chernobyl.
To prevent this catastrophe, a pressure valve needed to be released. Three courageous men undertook this dangerous mission, with only one of them, Alexei Ananenko, knowing the valve’s location. Ananenko, Valeri Bezpalov, and Boris Baranov dove under the reactor to release the valve, preventing a much greater disaster. Tragically, all three men succumbed to severe radiation poisoning shortly after their brave act, passing away within weeks. They were fully aware of the fatal consequences of their actions, yet they chose to sacrifice their lives to save hundreds of thousands of others.
2. Unexpected Disaster
On December 9, 2019, 47 people were on the stratovolcano White Island in New Zealand’s Bay of Plenty when it unexpectedly erupted. Tragically, 22 people lost their lives, while 25 others sustained severe injuries, many suffering from horrific burns.
White Island Tours manager Paul Kingi was on the island the day of the eruption. Just after he left with his tour group, the volcano exploded. Without hesitation, Kingi jumped into an inflatable dinghy and returned to the island. Upon arrival, he was able to lead 20 people to safety.
Helicopter pilot Tom Storey, along with his colleagues Mark Law and Jason Hill, managed to rescue 12 people from the island, despite the hazardous flying conditions. Due to the dangerous circumstances, no other emergency service helicopters could assist, so Storey, Law, and Hill loaded the survivors into their helicopters and transported them to the nearest hospital.
1. Young Heroes
On March 27, 1985, Willem Horne, a 41-year-old school bus driver, lost control of his double-decker bus while driving 72 students. The bus plunged into the Westdene dam in Johannesburg, South Africa.
In a split second after the crash, 17-year-old Pieter Koen, a matric pupil, quickly climbed out of the open window of the submerged bus and onto the roof. Without hesitation, he jumped into the dam to rescue his classmates. He pulled one student to safety, then repeated the act four more times. On the sixth dive, however, Koen did not resurface.
Theo de Koker and Matthys Wehmeyer were traveling on a bus ahead of the yellow bus when they suddenly heard screaming. They turned to see the yellow bus sinking into the dam. Quickly shouting for their own bus driver to stop, they stripped off their shoes and jackets and jumped into the water. Together, they rescued their friend Deon Beukes and pulled him to safety. Undeterred, they continued diving into the water, rescuing several more students, including de Koker’s sister. Another student, Danie Theron, saved three of his classmates.
Around 3,000 people gathered at the dam, including some parents of the students. Medical personnel worked tirelessly to save those pulled from the water. By the end of the day, 42 lives had been lost, and 30 students had been rescued. The bus driver also survived the incident.
Pieter Koen and Danie Theron were both honored with bravery awards, with Koen receiving his posthumously. Four years after the tragic event, Theron sadly took his own life.
