A Florida man is being praised for his quick instincts after he spotted two toddlers standing in the middle of a busy roadway and rushed into traffic to save them.
A Sudden, Terrifying Moment On A1A
John Brittingham was driving southbound on A1A on Sunday when he noticed a sight that made his heart drop. Two very young girls were standing directly in the path of approaching cars.
He immediately stopped, jumped out of his vehicle, and ran toward the children. Video from a nearby source shows him sprinting while signaling drivers to halt.
“I was terrified thinking of what could have happened to them. The rest of my life would have been ruined,” Brittingham told WESH-TV.
A Six-Second Race To Safety
When Brittingham reached them, one toddler had already stepped deeper into the roadway. He grabbed both girls and moved them to the side of the road as fast as he could. He later said the entire rescue took about six seconds.
The girls looked to be around two years old or younger. They could not explain where they came from and only pointed while saying, “Ohh.”
Searching For Where They Belonged
After getting them off the road, Brittingham began checking nearby homes. He eventually came across an Airbnb property. No one answered the front door, so he walked around the house calling out, eventually noticing a back gate that was left open.
Inside the home, he found an elderly couple and a young woman who had no idea the toddlers had slipped outside.
“There was an elderly couple and a young girl, and they immediately went into like, ‘Oh my God, we’re so sorry,’” Brittingham said. “And I was like, ‘Yeah, I know, I’m just glad I could get them back to you. They were out in the road, and your gate was open.’”
A Father And Grandfather Acting On Instinct
Brittingham has five children and grandchildren. He said his only priority was returning the toddlers safely to their caretakers. He chose not to call law enforcement, explaining that ensuring their safety came first.
A Close Call That Could Have Ended Differently
The incident highlights how quickly young children can wander, especially in unfamiliar rental homes where gates or doors may not be fully secured. On a fast moving road like A1A, a few seconds can decide everything.
In this case, one driver’s attention and immediate action prevented what could have been a heartbreaking outcome.
