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California boy saves elderly man’s life after dangerous fall

Posted at 5:10 PM, Mar 13, 2019
and last updated 2019-03-13 17:10:52-04

ORANGEVALE, Calif. - Twelve-year-old Jet Massagli was doing wheelies on his bike Friday when a man walking on the corner suddenly got his attention.

"I saw an old man face-first, down in the concrete," Massagli said.

The 87-year-old man tripped on uneven concrete and hit the ground with his face.

"It kind of scared me because I thought he was gonna pass out or something 'cause [blood] was running, dripping all over his clothes and all over the ground," he said. "I came over and said, 'Sir, are you OK?'"

Being on blood thinners, Chuck Martin knew he needed medical aid right away. So, he gave Jet his home address and asked the Carnegie Middle School student to go alert his wife to what happened.

"I was trying to use the phone and it was bloody. It was all bloody; I couldn't see anything, I couldn't see it," Martin said. "So, this was really helpful. Really so enormous because I could've bled out fairly quickly."

Massagli recognized the gravity of the situation and got down to business.

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"I rode on my bike as fast as I could 'cause I was worried he was going to pass out," he said.

Once Jet broke the news to Martin's wife, Lizbeth, he hurried back and sat by Martin's side until help arrived.

Nothing was broken, but Martin's injuries required stitches and antibiotics for an infection.

Marton said he's forever grateful to Jet for taking quick action and showing true kindness.

"I'm just proud as can be," Martin said. "I'm just really happy to meet this guy and to get to know him."

"It could've been an extremely dangerous situation if not for Jet," Lizbeth Martin said.

"I'm just proud for him. He did a good job," said Jet's mother, Jian.

The caring seventh grader volunteers his time at the Shadow Glen Stables on the weekends.

"He's a very hard worker and I can tell you he genuinely cares about people," his father, Jeff, said. "I've seen that a lot in his life."

"Jet's a hero," Lizbeth said. "He just doesn't save old men, he also helps with horses and nature."

Jet said he's thinking about being a sheriff's deputy or a dentist so he can continue to help people.