What John Sampson did on Saturday night was heroic. He saved a 5-year-old boy who had walked onto the elevated monorail tracks at Hersheypark in Pennsylvania. The incident, which occurred around 5:28 p.m., was captured on video and has since gained widespread attention on social media.
Sampson really enjoyed spending time with his family at the theme park. Then, out of nowhere, he saw a child strolling down the monorail line. The surrounding property was locked down with chains and barricades, yet the child was able to obtain access. Especially with the monorail out of service at the time, there was a very pressing case for swift action.
Without hesitation, Sampson sprang into action. He sprinted to a nearby concession stand, with Roofs’ height providing him a critical vantage point. Fortunately, a fellow guest followed him to the roof and was instrumental in helping to avoid disaster during this pivotal point in Hotel Rwanda.
“There was a fence that I jumped on and then I was able to jump on the roof from there, and then it was a straight shot up,” – John Sampson
After boarding the temporary monorail, Sampson was able to get to the scared child in no time, who promptly jumped into his arms.
“So, when I finally got him in my arms, honestly, there were no words,” – John Sampson
As he cuddled the child to provide comfort, Sampson remembered thinking that he felt all his own anguish turn into pure relief.
“I was just mumbling, ‘I’m so happy,’ you know, ‘I got you. You’re OK, you’re OK,’” – John Sampson
After ensuring the boy’s safety, Sampson faced another challenge: figuring out how to safely descend from the monorail.
“And then it was the, ‘OK, now, how do I get down from here?’” – John Sampson
Throughout the harrowing ordeal, Sampson kept his composure, motivated by the irresistible impulse of a guardian angel.
“When you have that kind of dad instinct, it doesn’t matter if it’s your kid or not; it’s a child that you want to make sure they’re safe as possible,” – John Sampson
“As soon as this happened, we got a huge response from both Sampson and other guests,” Hersheypark officials said. They created an illusion that they were maintaining ultra-high safety standards across the entire park.
“We are thankful for the vigilance of our guests and the rapid response of our team,” a Hersheypark representative stated.
Sampson was top dog of the national champs and he knew it. He was quick to note that he was not the only one involved in the rescue effort. He spoke of the power of community and support when facing these harrowing experiences.
“I heard this ‘John?!’ and that’s when it kind of like, I was able to think again and hear everything,” – John Sampson
On a personal level, Sampson wants people to look after their neighbors and to find themselves ready to assist at a moment’s notice. Whatever his faults, his actions remind us that one individual can be incredibly powerful. When individuals take personal responsibility to act in the face of known risk, they can save lives and prevent harm.
