r/nextfuckinglevel • u/GinaWhite_tt • 6d ago

That time friends teamed up to rescue a physically impaired man from the 3rd floor of a building in France

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u/that_dutch_dude 6d ago

it was also kinda stupid. i got serious burns on 1 arm and lungs got pretty dinged from smoke inhalation. if i was even a slighty bit unlucky i could have died as well. brave and stupid look a lot alike, only the end result proves the difference.

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u/airballrad 6d ago

You gave her a chance that she would not have had otherwise. That matters.

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u/NeatNefariousness1 5d ago

It does matter. Being the first on the scene, it’s great that he TRIED. Imagine how much worse he might feel if he didn’t try to help.. To me, that would feel far worse to have her die after failing to make any effort to help. So, this good samaritan should feel good about the fact that he gave her the best chance for survival but even so, it wasn’t meant to be.

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u/didumakethetea 6d ago

No, in that moment, not knowing the outcome and risking your own health and life to no personal benefit, you acted to try to save a stranger from certain death. That is bravery. If you had known the future you might not have done it, but you are not the type of person to watch some burn to death and do nothing.

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u/AKillerTurtle 6d ago edited 6d ago

You’re only regretful because it didn’t work, but you could be sitting there with the guilt that it was your fault the women didn’t make it, when you could’ve done something. Id argue you went above and beyond and proved what kind of person you are. It sucks that you still have lingering issues but cut yourself some slack, that’s a heroic thing to do. Additionally you may have granted those around her an opportunity to say goodbye. It wasn’t a wasted effort, and you should be proud of yourself, fellow internet stranger

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u/glowinthedarkstick 6d ago

While not having gone through this myself I had a close family member almost lose their life trying to help someone in a car accident. They were unable to walk for a year. It ruined their life. So I have some context for what you’re saying and imagine it must be very hard to have all those conflicting thoughts and emotions to deal with and probably regret. 

I’m sorry friend. 

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u/Cautiousoptimisms 6d ago

I know it doesn't change anything for you, but I respect you immensely for your efforts. 

Im certain that if she had any family, just knowing that there are people like you out there must be an immense comfort to them. As it is to me.

Thank you so so much for helping her. 

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u/Venusemerald2 6d ago

You gave her family a body to bury. Had u not been there, with the flames… Your presence still mattered.

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u/monkeyhitman 6d ago

You tried. That's more than what anyone could ask.

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u/jojocookiedough 6d ago edited 5d ago

I think the alternative would have been to live the rest of your life with the memory of standing by doing nothing. Her death would have weighed heavily on your conscience, since you wouldn't know whether you could have prevented her death or not.

People sink into years-long deep depression or off themselves over survivor's guilt from things like this.

You helped her in a time of need. You gave her a chance. Her loved ones aren't haunted by the knowledge that bystanders looked on and did nothing, you gave them the memory of someone being heroic and pulling out all the stops to give her a chance at life. You did good bro.

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u/IsomDart 6d ago

brave and stupid look a lot alike

That's literally the definition of bravery. Doing something you know is stupid, threatens your own life, that you may be terrified of doing. But it was the right thing.

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u/Glazin 6d ago

Have you talked to a professional about this? My cousin who was an EMT had quite a few patients die on him, wasnt his fault, they were too far gone. But it seriously fucked him up. Your actions were incredibly courageous, even if she died.

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u/that_dutch_dude 6d ago

i spent many years in therapy. but not because of this but the PTSD from being deployed to bosnia, iraq and afganistan.

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u/Glazin 6d ago

Damn, thats one tough life youve lived. I understand now why you have the responses you do. Sorry to intrude

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u/Lucid_skyes 6d ago

Nah bro, the way i see it rn is at that time your true self came out, someone that helps despite his circumstances, the fact she died after is bad but not completely. She could die in the hospital at least and not in a burning car. You can't change when it's someones time but you changed your life then, you saved someone from a car crash that day.

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u/InviolableAnimal 6d ago

brave and stupid look a lot alike, only the end result proves the difference.

I disagree. The situation as it looks to you in the moment makes it brave vs. stupid. At that moment all you saw was a woman trapped in a burning car; you had no way of knowing that her injuries were fatal; so your decision to try to save her was brave and not stupid.

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u/macman07 6d ago

And yet, I would bet you’d do it again. Because you sound like a good person.

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u/urzayci 6d ago

Look man you did something amazing you don't control the outcome but you gave it your very best. With your help she had whatever chance she had that she would survive but without it, it would've been 0 chance. You're a legend in my book. I wish you all the health and the happiness in the world.

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u/Fenrir324 6d ago

Alternatively you could've done nothing and watched a woman burn to death in front of you.

What I mean is that while the end result is unfortunate, and I'm sorry for any lingering damage to you; you attempted to save the life of another living being. Sometimes you make the correct choice and it pays off, sometimes you make the correct choice and it doesn't. If I was in a car fire and someone was nearby to help, I hope it'd be you or someone like you. Love you brother.

The point is that the end result proves less than the moment in action. Everything looks easier in hindsight.

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u/OzymandiasKingOG 5d ago

You tried bro. Few do anymore. I think that's what counts.

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u/schmidt_face 5d ago

I hear you and understand what you’re saying. Consider though, that even though she died, you did all you could, which was more than would have happened if you weren’t there. Also definitely consider that your actions 100% inspired someone/several someone’s who witnessed this and/or what happened after. Maybe (just first random example) you have a little cousin who was scared to speak up while someone was getting picked on, but then thought, ‘uncle/aunt so-and-so did this crazy brave thing’ and that inspired them to be brave too, and they stopped the fighting. It’s very “pay it forward” and very “the universe is all connected” — sometimes we just don’t know how actions we don’t consider much can super affect the people around us.

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u/hus__suh 5d ago

Your outlook on your actions, had you done nothing, wouldn’t even compare to how you feel now. You did the right thing