Massachusetts Snowplow Driver Credits Quick Reflexes for Saving Older Man's Life in Auburn
A dramatic scene unfolded on Burnett Street in Auburn, Massachusetts, during Sunday night's snowstorm when a passing snowplow driver sprang into action to save an older man who had become trapped face-down in a deep snowbank.
Matte McGarry was making his final pass along the route when he noticed two legs flailing from the snowbank. Initially thinking it might be some sort of prank, McGarry initially thought he was seeing things before realizing that a person was indeed stuck in the snow.
According to Boston 25 News, McGarry stopped his truck and rushed out to help the man, pulling him to safety just in time. The older man, who wishes to remain anonymous, had been walking home after watching a sports game when he lost his footing and fell headfirst into the 3-foot-deep snowbank.
"He couldn't reach the bottom – the snow was really powdery – so he had no way of pushing himself back out," McGarry told the outlet. "It was scary." The man was reportedly in shock, with his arms and face frozen from exposure, but somehow managed to kick his legs as he struggled to free himself.
Thanks to McGarry's quick thinking and bravery, the older man is now safely on his way to recovery. As a token of appreciation, the Auburn Board of Selectmen has pledged to commend McGarry for his heroism.
A dramatic scene unfolded on Burnett Street in Auburn, Massachusetts, during Sunday night's snowstorm when a passing snowplow driver sprang into action to save an older man who had become trapped face-down in a deep snowbank.
Matte McGarry was making his final pass along the route when he noticed two legs flailing from the snowbank. Initially thinking it might be some sort of prank, McGarry initially thought he was seeing things before realizing that a person was indeed stuck in the snow.
According to Boston 25 News, McGarry stopped his truck and rushed out to help the man, pulling him to safety just in time. The older man, who wishes to remain anonymous, had been walking home after watching a sports game when he lost his footing and fell headfirst into the 3-foot-deep snowbank.
"He couldn't reach the bottom – the snow was really powdery – so he had no way of pushing himself back out," McGarry told the outlet. "It was scary." The man was reportedly in shock, with his arms and face frozen from exposure, but somehow managed to kick his legs as he struggled to free himself.
Thanks to McGarry's quick thinking and bravery, the older man is now safely on his way to recovery. As a token of appreciation, the Auburn Board of Selectmen has pledged to commend McGarry for his heroism.
I'm still shaking my head over this one 
. Can you imagine being trapped in that powdery snowbank? 
It's crazy how quickly those 3 feet can add up and become an insurmountable obstacle 
. The fact that the older man was walking home from a sports game, thinking he had it all under control... 
. His quick reflexes and bravery saved a life that day... what a reminder to always be mindful of our surroundings! 
I'm literally dying over here!!! Matte McGarry is like a real-life superhero 
I mean, can you even imagine being in that situation and having to act so fast?! 3ft deep snowbank and the guy's legs are just flailing everywhere 
I was on the edge of my seat thinking he was gonna be stuck there forever! And then McGarry shows up and saves him like it's nothing 
what a hero!! 
I'm literally shipping this guy to be the next snowplow driver superhero 
The fact that the snow was powdery and he couldn't even push himself back up is wild. But what's amazing is that the snowplow driver just happened to be driving by, saw this guy flailing around, and reacted fast enough to save his life! 
It's these unsung heroes that we need more of – people who are just doing their job but happen to make a huge difference. And kudos to the Auburn Board for recognizing McGarry's heroism – I'm sure he's a regular Joe who just happened to be in the right place at the right time 
the old guy had fallen headfirst into the 3ft deep snowbank & couldn't get himself out cuz the snow was powdery 
. i think its awesome that ppl r still doin good deeds 4 one another even in crazy weather conditions 
still glad he showed up when he did tho & btw hope the old dude recovers fully from this ordeal 
how fast did mattie react tho? was he driving slow or had to make an emergency stop 
anyway, im glad the old dude made it out alive 
.
. I mean, can you even imagine being stuck in 3ft of powdery snow and just chillin'? It's crazy how fast things can go from bad to worse, right? 
. He's like the hero of our time, minus the cape and superpowers 
. I love how he's credited his "quick reflexes" for saving that dude's life – talk about being in the right place at the right time 
! And let's be real, it's not just about the heroism, it's also about those snowplow drivers being out there every day, working hard to keep us safe on the roads 
) and hope he gets the commendation from the Auburn Board of Selectmen as promised!